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Buildings and Facilities

Some of these emerging capabilities have required various building space and other facilities. The Government is only partially funding building provision so Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) have had to contribute office space and buildings.

The USAR team is the largest of the new capabilities needing additional space for 13 new full time staff, a base for a further 23 retained staff and storage space for six major appliances, two support vehicles and stocks of timber, concrete slabs, steel girders and numerous other items.

Accommodating Staff

The 13 full time staff, temporarily housed at Eastleigh Fire Station in an office (suitable for only 3 or 4!), move into new offices at HQ in January 2007.

Accommodating Vehicles

A vehicle compound with a five bay appliance room will house most of the USAR vehicles and modules with the remainder and mass decontamination disrobe modules parked in charging bays outside. This building and the hard standing associated with it also doubles up as a training area.

Alongside this area the Fire Behaviour Training facilities are being expanded to include a self-contained building with lecture rooms, drying facilities and a mess room, and USAR will share these facilities.

Training Facilities

A USAR training facility is due to be funded by the national project and an area at the HQ site has been earmarked for this. We also have plans for a dedicated trench rescue training rig.

When all this is completed USAR will have an outstanding range of facilities at one central site.