Fort Widley

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is fortunate to have access to parts of Fort Widley, near Portsmouth, for training and exercise purposes. The site is a Napoleonic fort used for various purposes but has areas that remain partially derelict and unused. These areas have been utilised by HFRS to develop USAR training rigs of various kinds. Access to other parts of the fort also means USAR can set up extensive exercises and training events in very realistic ways.

HFRS has been using Fort Widley for USAR exercises and training for many years and as these have developed and become more complex, so other teams have been invited to take part. The fort is also well used by Portsmouth fire stations for a variety of scenarios as well as a 'Hands On' day for FDS officers as part of their Module 2 (Specialist Roles) course.

Widley Week

For the past several years Fort Widley has been the venue for the annual UKISAR (formerly UKFSSART) training event for all the UK’s overseas USAR teams. This is usually a week of in-depth training and a major exercise involving over 100 participants. Hampshire’s USAR team organise and deliver this major event every year.

Interest in the venue as a training facility is now global and the Service receives visitors and observers from all around the world. At Widley Week 2008, in addition to teams from all over the UK, were crews from Germany, Sweden, Estonia, South Africa and America. The 36 hour exercise tested the capabilities required for a deployment overseas and offered the chance to share international best practice.

In 2006, Widley Week gained United Nations accreditation for the UK to be officially classified as one of the first International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Heavy USAR Teams.