Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
Urban Search and Rescue forms part of the New Dimension
programme which provides the fire and rescue service with a
national capability to respond to major emergencies involving
chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) events,
search and rescue, major flooding incidents and major transport
incidents.
This enhances existing local and specialist capability based on
nationally assessed risk and planning assumptions across the
overall Civil Contingencies Framework. The equipment and resources
will also be available for use by fire and rescue services during
other incidents if an Incident Commander believes it would be of
help.
There are lots of different causes of USAR incidents. They
include accidental events, such as earthquakes and severe weather
conditions, like storms, snow, ice and floods and events that are
deliberate such as malicious, criminal or terrorist acts which may
result in structural instability or collapse of buildings or any
other structures.
USAR incidents could involve:
- large numbers of trapped casualties and fatalities;
- unstable or collapsed structure(s);
- a major transport incident;
- a land slide which needs structural help; or
- the aftermath of an explosion - for example a gas leak or
bomb.
The USAR project will deliver the ability to respond to any
incident, whether deliberate or accidental, involving unstable or
collapsed structures, or following a major transport incident.
USAR includes the ability to:
- carry out initial search, identification and location of
trapped casualties;
- rescue trapped casualties from unstable or collapsed
environments; and
- provide and maintain safe working conditions during
an incident.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service has a large amount of specialist
USAR equipment including:
- propping and shoring equipment - ‘Paratech aluminium
struts’;
- concrete breeching and breaking equipment - including
demolition hammers and core drills;
- technical search equipment - such as sound location ‘DELSAR’
equipment and remote search cameras;
- thirteen tonnes of timber for propping and shoring; and
- an all terrain vehicle.