Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 020 7944 4400- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Fire and resilience
- Resilience and response to emergencies
- New Dimension
- New Dimension: Urban Search and Rescue
New Dimension: Urban Search and Rescue
The New Dimension project is providing equipment and training to expand the national urban search and rescue (USAR) capability for the fire and rescue service.
Following the events of 11 September 2001, the thirteen fire and rescue services with international search and rescue teams (UKFSSART) temporarily expanded their remit to respond to collapsed structure incidents within the UK whilst the New Dimension project developed and delivered a permanent domestic USAR capability.
Today, the provision of USAR capability has been rolled out and is operating through a network of 19 strategically located USAR teams (plus one strategic reserve) hosted by 17 fire and rescue services in England. Each team comprises a trained crew of around 30 people, fully funded by Government and earlier in 2008, Communities and Local Government announced further funding for the provision of search and rescue dogs (one per USAR team).
The delivery of USAR equipment and resources will help ensure that the FRS has the capability to respond to and manage major incidents such as building collapses (on the scale of 9/11) and transport accidents.
What New Equipment is carried on the USAR vehicles?
The new USAR equipment supplied to the fire and rescue service is carried within five specially designed modules and is intended for demanding and sustained use and includes:
- Technical search cameras
- Listening devices and communication probes
- Cutting, drilling and breaking equipment
- Timber cutting work stations
- Propping and shoring equipment
- Lighting and power generation
- Hand tools
- Heavy capacity air bags
What training and training facilities have been provided?
To support this new capability, the New Dimension Project initially sent over 400 UK firefighters to attend the 'Disaster City' collapsed structure course in Texas in the United States. The specially designed centre enabled students to practice rescue techniques in a safe, realistic environment, and provided them with an enhanced range of specialist skills.
The Texas training formed the foundation of courses now provided at the Fire Service College. These have been fully funded by the government and include the ongoing development of procedures and training packages, as well as the building of local training rigs to provide all levels of USAR training from 'hands on' frontline response, to senior Gold and Silver command in a multi-agency scenario.
A dedicated building provides a year-round tool skills training area. Custom built USAR training rigs and simulated collapsed structures funded by New Dimension at the Fire Service College provides scenario-based training.
Both host USAR and non USAR fire and rescue services ensure that the USAR Awareness CD issued by the New Dimension Project is studied and regularly reviewed by operational personnel, in order to give a fuller understanding of the hazards and risks associated with large-scale structural collapse incidents.
