Home > News > September 2005 > 08-Sep-2005

£6 million centre opens for urban search and rescue training

A new training facility for urban search and rescue (USAR) has been officially unveiled at the Fire Service College.

Costing over £6 million, the training centre was officially opened earlier this week by ODPM minister for civil resilience Phil Woolas. It is designed to provide year-round, all-weather training for firefighters across the country for all levels of response from hands-on front-line response to senior command multi-agency operations.

Opening the facility Mr Woolas said: "The training centre is part of the Government's New Dimension programme which will enhance the country's preparedness and resilience by ensuring the fire and rescue service is equipped to deal with emergencies of all kinds - from terrorist attacks to natural disasters.

He added: "It is vital that firefighters have the facilities to train in new urban search and rescue techniques, using the state-of-the-art equipment, and that they are able to practise those skills and share their knowledge with colleagues. I am delighted that the Fire Service College now has this world class centre of excellence to provide that essential training."

The opening of the new training centre marked the start of the second New Dimension seminar, attended by Chief Fire Officers and elected local authority members from across the England and Wales. According to the Government, up to £132 million has been committed for urban search and rescue and high volume water pumping equipment and £56 million to equip the service with mass decontamination capability.

In his keynote speech Mr Woolas highlighted that New Dimension equipment has already been seen in action and has helped save lives. High volume pumping equipment played a vital role in the clean up operation in Carlisle following the worst floods in 40 years. It was deployed again most recently this summer during the flash floods at the Glastonbury Festival. In Boscastle last year following the flooding, two specialist USAR crews were instrumental in the rescue operation and last May firefighters used search and rescue equipment including thermal imaging cameras and search and rescue dogs to rescue seven people after a building collapse in a Glasgow plastics factory.

Mr Woolas said: "We have seen huge progress. In reality the programme is no longer a 'New Dimension', it is now an effective part of mainstream activity for the Fire and Rescue Service."

Hosting the New Dimension seminar Chief Executive of the Fire Service College, Gill Newton, said: "The Fire Service College is proud to be playing a key role in the support of national civil resilience. These new facilities provide an unrivalled opportunity for firefighters to train safely in realistic and challenging search and rescue conditions - helping to improve the preparedness and safety of firefighters in saving lives across the widest range of emergency situations."

The new training facility was welcomed by Tom Carroll, President of the Chief Fire Officers Association, who said: "CFOA are committed to working with Government and other key stakeholders to deliver ever improving capability to protect our communities. These facilities will provide a vital part in preparing our people to deliver that service."

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