Minister launches search and rescue training facility at fire service headquarters in Birkenshaw (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Minister launches search and rescue training facility at fire service headquarters in Birkenshaw

6:57pm Thursday 7th January 2010

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A state-of-the-art Urban Search and Rescue Centre opened today at West Yorkshire Fire Service’s Bradford headquarters to train crews to deal with emergencies including terrorist attacks.

Fire Minister Shahid Malik yesterday toured the complex and witnessed demonstrations, including a car rescue and rescues from heights, as he opened the centre in Birkenshaw.

The USAR training centre is part of a £2.3 million development which allows firefighters to practice rescues which can occur in road, rail or aircraft accidents.

The centre includes a training rig, offices, classrooms, showers, washrooms, toilets and space for kit storage and refreshments. The USAR equipment and training is part of the Government’s investment of more than £1 billion in England’s fire and rescue services which began after terrorism attacks in the US on September 11, 2001.

Mr Malik said: “This is national resilience and each fire and rescue authority has to play its role, but the truth is we now have challenges which didn’t exist some years ago.

“We know that terrorism is a threat and a challenge and we know we have to deal with the fall-out from that.

“We also know because of climate change that flooding is a reality and the fire service is now set for dealing with and responding to this challenge.”

A water pump has also been installed at the centre for rescues from partially submerged vehicles. West Yorkshire’s USAR team, which is on call for regional and national emergencies, has been based at Cleckheaton Fire Station but began moving on to the new site shortly before Christmas.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling said: “USAR equips us now with a range of equipment and skills set that previously we didn’t have, therefore major transport and major building collapse incidents, we are now well equipped to respond to not only in West Yorkshire but across the region.

“Incidents such as 9/11 on the Twin Towers in New York woke this country up to the possibility, if not probability, of major terrorist action.

“We assessed our capability, not just in the fire service but across Government departments and the emergency services, and concluded that significant investment was necessary to upgrade major rescue capability.”

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