FIREFIGHTERS raced to Blenheim Palace as a matter of urgency earlier this month, but there was no roaring blaze when they arrived.

More than 30 crew members and six fire engines made their way to the palace in Woodstock, as part of a program learning how to tackle serious fires in the county's most valued heritage buildings.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service teamed up with staff at Blenheim, in a real time enactment of a huge fire in one of the ornate rooms.

The whole exercise lasted for two hours and was pronounced a success by fire station commander for Woodstock, Charlbury and Chipping Norton, Chris Wilson.

He said: "This was a textbook response which was achieved by the rigorous training our staff go through on a continual basis.

"I'm very pleased to say that our response was just as planned but we could not have conducted this exercise without the permission of their Graces and the total engagement of the staff and management of the palace.

"We will be conducting more training in and around the palace to compliment this exercise and look forward to working alongside palace staff again in the summer."

A key element of the fire plan was to consider the priorities within the palace to protect items of international importance.

Just like at a real incident, palace staff were available to show crews the best access to save such items.

Area manager Mat Carlile, head of operations at the fire service said: "These exercises are vital in ensuring that we maintain an effective response to protect buildings and artefacts that are treasured around the world."