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Specialist Response - International Community Aid
Hampshire has been sending volunteers to overseas disasters since 1988 and we continue this as part of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UKISAR).
In addition to disaster response the Hampshire Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team also carries out targeted Community Aid in countries worldwide. This is the result of specific requests from the country’s Embassy in the UK, overseas charities or partner organisations.
Community Aid projects are beneficial to the team as it gives personnel experience of working in difficult conditions in foreign countries and offers a sound appreciation of the cultural aspects of overseas operations.
Based in the Municipality of Thika this project is a training and equipment support based initiative. It has grown from an approach from Out of Afrika, a charity that runs a training college in the area.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service donated a fully equipped end-of-service fire appliance and subsequently delivered a four-week basic firefighting course 2007. This appliance, along with college staff, is available to the community on a retained response. Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service has also donated an appliance to the college to further develop the potential for their training activities.
This project has now developed to include Thika Municipal Fire Service.
In 2008 a further fully kitted end-of-service appliance was donated by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service along with Personal Protective Equipment for all firefighters on the station.
Support has also been given in the form of maintenance and training for the firefighters. Training on the benefits and efficient delivery of Community Safety to schools and the wider community has also been a successful part of this partnership and is received with enthusiasm in the wider community.
Photo: An end-of-service Hampshire fire appliance seeing active duty in Thika
Photo: The young people of Thika with their new fire appliance
Photo: Hampshire firefighter Denise Knight discusses Community Safety with Kenyan firefighters
This project is based in the County of Arges and is run in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary. Its purpose is to create a Best Practice fire and rescue service in Arges County that can be projected into other county fire services.
HFRS is providing support, via the USAR team, in developing the ‘Special Operations’ elements contained within the Arges Fire Service (Inspecoratul Pentru Situatii De Urgenta Al Judetului Arges). The specific area of assistance requested is for Urban Search and Rescue as Romania has a history of severe earthquakes due to a fault line through the country.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s partnership in Chile is centered on the city of Valparaiso. The provision of Personal Protective Equipment and an end-of-service appliance, all donated by HFRS, was in response to a direct request from the British High Commission in Chile 2007. Group Manager Mick Johns backed this up with a period of training in Valparaiso with the 11th Fire Company. Work is also underway to offer support and training to the 10a Fire Company who specialise in rescue operations with an emphasis on Urban Search and Rescue. Valparaiso is regularly affected by earthquakes due to a fault line down the Andes mountain range.
Photo: Crew Manager Simon Forster and Watch Manager Lee Giffard with a former HFRS appliance donated to Valparaiso Fire Brigade
Photo: Crew Manager Simon Forster and Watch Manager Lee Giffard in Chile with cadet firefighters from Valparaiso Fire Brigade.
Training was provided in relation earthquake response in 1996, 1997 and 2004 and was supported by Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The training was centered on response to earthquakes as the island is a large Caribbean volcano. Specific areas of training delivered included chainsaw operations, rope access and rescue, large area surface search and the management of post disaster response.
In partnership with Avon Fire and Rescue Service, fully kitted end-of-service appliances were donated along with Personal Protective Equipment and additional training. Most of the material assistance was centered on the town of Soma in the middle of the country. Work in The Gambia is now undertaken by GAFSIP, Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership (www.gafsip.org).
UKISAR
