Chair of Avon Fire Authority, Councillor Terry Walker, used hydraulic cutting equimpment to officially open the £1.3 million building, marking the end of a two year project to redevelop and expand the existing fire station to provide a full-time base for the service’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team.

USAR forms part of the Government’s National Resilience programme which provides the UK fire and rescue services with the capability to respond to major emergencies involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) events, search and rescue, large scale flooding and major transport incidents.

The USAR team has five large ‘modules’, transported on lorries, which carry specialist equipment to deal with a range of incidents. Among the items carried are listening devices and cameras, heavy cutting and breaking tools to access buildings, and propping and shoring equipment. AF&RS’s high volume pump, which was used during the 2007 Gloucestershire floods, is also based at the premises.

Prior to the building work the USAR team was based at various stations around the Avon area. The new 1,000 square metre station will now provide a base for 16 USAR technicians, on standby to respond to incidents both locally and nationally. The new station includes six double appliance bays, alongside the existing two which will continue to be used by the town’s retained duty firefighters.

The site also includes a Community Safety Centre which provides safety information, as well as meeting rooms and internet access free of charge to local groups.

In the new building a number of environmental features have been considered in a bid to reduce AF&RS’s carbon footprint. An environmentally sound timber frame construction, rather than steel or concrete frame, was employed as well as advanced thermal insulation and double glazing.

Councillor Terry Walker, Chair of Avon Fire Authority, said: “The redevelopment of Nailsea Fire Station is a positive step both to people here in the town and indeed on a regional and national basis.

“The role of the fire and rescue service is in constant evolution and the new facility puts AF&RS in the best position to provide an effective response to the many challenges our firefighters may face wherever they may be.

“I am extremely grateful to local people who had to bear with us during the building works, which has now given local crews and the USAR team a modern and high quality base to respond from. I hope people in Nailsea will embrace the Community Safety Centre which provides a free and valuable resource in the town.”

Kevin Pearson, Chief Fire Officer of Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “The tragic events of 9/11 in New York in 2001, together with natural disasters all over the world, have provided learning opportunities for the fire and rescue services across the globe. Today we are able to demonstrate the capability we now have in the UK fire and rescue services to deal with major incidents.

“I think the public should be assured that in the event of any manmade or natural disaster, AF&RS is ready to respond, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with highly trained professionals using state of the art equipment."