Fire Minister thanks firefighters for their rescue work in Haiti

Firefighters last night met Fire Minister Shahid Malik to tell him about their experiences in Haiti and other parts of the world where they have been involved in many rescues of people from collapsed buildings following earthquakes.

The firefighters who met the Fire Minister are from Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, West Midlands, West Sussex and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services.

Deployment to Haiti and other international responses enhance skills at home should they ever be required. Many of the firefighters who respond to international rescues are part of England's New Dimension urban search and rescue (USAR) technicians. These firefighters have often been trained in USAR skills under the UK Government funded New Dimension project that has provided specialist equipment and training to the Fire and Rescue Service to give them the capabilities that they need to respond to major emergencies whether caused by nature, industrial accident or terrorist activity. Many of the UK team's training took place at the Fire Service College's world class USAR training facility.

Fire Minister Shahid Malik said:

"I have been genuinely impressed with the stories I have heard about the UK urban search and rescue crews who operated in such difficult circumstances, and the tireless work they undertook is a testament to both their professionalism and selflessness.

"I would like to thank not only those who went to Haiti but also those who provided critical support from the UK to enable their deployment. The practical experience that the USAR crews will take away from this operation will contribute to their professional skills and benefit the UK if they are needed."

The UK search and rescue team in Haiti saved the lives of four people - including a two-year-old girl who had been trapped for three days - and provided medical assistance to many others. The team had to cope with extreme circumstances of devastation and chaos, with desperation and crime fuelling a volatile situation; and strong aftershocks, making rescue efforts all the more difficult. The team searched areas greater than 64 square miles and also went to two critical areas outside of Port au Prince (Leogane and Petite Guave).

The leader of the UK firefighters team that went to Haiti, Lincolnshire's Chief Fire Officer Mike Thomas said:

"While the focus was on search and rescue just as importantly we provided immediate life saving emergency medical assistance to a large number of people and through our relationships built with the US military successfully organised medivacs to field hospitals. We were the only team who did this.

"This was a whole team effort that created an effective delivery of the valuable search and rescue role in such difficult circumstances. The UK is the only team that has been classified by the UN to undertake rescues from 'heavy' concrete buildings and has built a significant reputation and gained respect from other search and rescue teams, so much so that in Haiti we acted as mentor to newer teams from across the world.

"The UK team did a great job in difficult circumstances and thankfully all the team came back fit and well and proud of our involvement in one of the most significant disasters in the world.

"I also recognise the valuable role of Department for International Development in providing support to UK International Search and Rescue, and to Communities and Local Government enabling us to effectively showcase the UK's international search and rescue credentials."

Members of the UK team meeting the Fire Minister include, Gareth Highley from West Midlands FRS, Malcolm Cowie from Kent FRS, Peter Stevenson from Greater Manchester FRS, and Lincolnshire's CFO Mike Thomas.

Source: CLG website