Firefighters Dan Eves and Chris Ammundsen returned home at the end of January, having been part of the UK’s response in Mozambique, where torrential rain has caused severe flooding.
The HIWFRS duo were part of the 36-strong UK International Search and Rescue team, made up of firefighters from ten fire and rescue services across the country, deployed through the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, to support Mozambique’s flood response.
Dan, who is based at Eastleigh, and Chris, at Basingstoke, were part of the initial contingent who flew out on the 20th January.
Watch Manager Dan Eves said:
“Chris and I are extremely proud of the part we were able to play in UKISAR’s response in Mozambique.
“It was an experience I will never forget and my heart goes out to all those who continue to be affected by the devastating floods seen in the country.
“We are thankful to our colleagues back in Hampshire and Isle of Wight for the support they have shown us during our deployment.
“UKISAR is an incredible asset which allows a specialist and dedicated team of firefighters to respond at a moment’s notice to a range of different disasters across the world.”
Teams deployed with four rescue boats, drones and specialist equipment, enabling them to clear fallen trees and debris, assess affected areas from the air, and carry out search and rescue operations.
During the deployment, teams carried out rescues from floodwaters and structures, including from a bridge and from a rooftop.
Teams checked and cleared residential buildings, schools and other public buildings to identify and assist people in need of rescue.
Men, women and children were rescued, including people who had been stranded in floodwater for several days.
Teams also delivered water and hundreds of kilograms of food to small, isolated communities that had been cut off by floodwaters and without access to food for up to a week.
The UK ISAR team is part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Resilience function and responds primarily to overseas urban or flood search and rescue emergencies on behalf of the UK and are all trained to use specialist kit, including flood rescue boats and drones. They are sponsored and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The official UK Government response, the team is drawn from 14 UK fire and rescue services and are trained and equipped to operate in complex and high-risk environments overseas, providing life-saving assistance and a specialist search and rescue capability in the aftermath of international disasters.
Over the past few years members of the HIWFRS USAR team have been involved in a number of responses, including to earthquakes in Morocco and Turkey, as well as a building collapse in Jersey.
