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Specialist Response - Specialist Rescue
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water and flood rescue
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chainsaw capabilities
urban search and rescue
The severe flooding events that affected much of the country in the summer of 2007 emphasised the need for greater multi-agency responses and integrated planning to deal with the initial response and the recovery.
Flooding can occur suddenly, such as damage to water infrastructure (reservoirs, drains, etc) or over long periods of time, such as heavy rain. It may also be caused due to a loss of containment and release of water or coastal flooding by sea water caused by bad weather, high tides and coastal surges. This can lead to people requiring rescue or recovery from rising water levels and areas cut off by floodwaters and people who require assistance from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure they can safely protect their properties and belongings. To achieve this, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service works closely with other agencies, utilities and responders on the Local Resilience Forum and Regional Resilience Forum to plan strategies to protect the local communities and critical national Infrastructure.
To help Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service plan its immediate responses, the Service receives warnings of likely overflows to waterways from the Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk) and where necessary we are able to move equipment and personnel into an area to respond quickly to flooding situations. In addition our mobilising Fire Control also receives advanced warnings of severe weather that could potentially cause localised flooding from the Metrological Office.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service trains all operational personnel to enable them to work safely near water. They are all trained to National standards (level 1 ‘Water Awareness’) and have access to life jackets and throw lines are carried on all pumping appliances.
Photo: Firefighter deploying a ‘Throw Line’
In addition personnel from 11 stations have been specially trained and equipped to carry out water rescues where it is necessary to enter the water and recover people trapped by floodwater. Again training and equipment has been provided to National standards (Level 2 ‘Water First Responder’). The 11 stations include:
These stations were selected in some cases due to their existing experience and responsibilities for flood equipment, such as High Volume Pumps that require work in and around water.
In addition three stations selected operate Multi Role Vehicles and already participate in rescues of people and animals from water and mud. The other stations were selected either due to risk intelligence that shows a history of water rescues in the area covered by their fire station. The stations now hold personal protective and rescue equipment that can be carried by fire appliances during flood conditions to enable flood rescues to be carried out safely.
Photo: Level 2 Water First Responders
In addition all 50 members of our Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) team have been trained to Water First Responder Level 2 to ensure we can maintain water rescue support for longer periods while allowing firefighters to be available for other emergencies.
At Fareham fire station the Service has provided a Water Support Unit. This unit carries equipment to support the deployment of the MIRG team to fires and chemical incidents at sea but also carries equipment to provide rescue and support to communities throughout Hampshire affected by flooding.
Photo: Fareham’s Water Support Unit supplies Flood Support Equipment
The Water Support Unit carries two Avon inflatable boats which can be rowed or pulled into position by firefighters to recover members of the public and bring them safely to dry ground.
Photo: Team training using Avon Rescue Boat Carried on the Water Support Unit
Photo: In action during flood conditions
In addition to the equipment carried at Fareham the three stations that operate Multi Role Vehicles (Rushmoor, Eastleigh and Havant) have also all been trained and equipped to Level 2.
In addition to the personal protective equipment above these vehicles also carry equipment to carryout rescues of people and animals in water, mud, ice or other unstable ground. Crews often work together with Maritime and Coastguard Agency (www.mcga.gov.uk) mud rescue teams in coastal areas to reach people trapped in unsafe ground. The MRVs can also carry and deliver high volume flood pumps to remove flood waters. These pumps are designed to deal with not only the water but also the debris usually found in floodwaters.
Photo: MRV appliance
Photo: Firefighter carrying out a rescue from Mud
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service also operates a High Volume Pump (HVP) from Hardley Fire Station. The unit is crewed by firefighters from Hardley, Hythe and Ringwood, all of whom have been trained to ensure that the unit can operate for days at a time often many miles from home. This pumping unit was supplied as part of the government’s national resilience strategy with over 40 units available countrywide.
As the name suggests the pump is capable of moving over 7000 litres of water a minute. It is also capable of pumping the water over long distances and each pump comes supplied with 3 km of large diameter hose. Working together the pumps have proved to be very effective in fire and flood situations. Hampshire’s unit was used extensively to assist in Yorkshire and Gloucestershire during the 2007 summer floods.
Photo: High Volume Pumps protecting electricity distribution in Gloucestershire
Hampshire fire crews regularly train to national standards with the HVP’s and plan and train with neighbouring HVP teams in surrounding Fire and Rescue Services in Dorset, Isle of Wight, Surrey and Berkshire. Large exercises have also involved the practice of moving HVP’s into otherwise inaccessible areas using military helicopters if necessary.
Photo: Hose from HVP’s transporting vast quantities of water
