More than 400 firefighters competed at the UKRO Festival of Rescue 2022 last week, with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service picking up several awards for their leading skills in heavy rescue, trauma care and rope rescue.
Nearly 40 fire and rescue services from across the UK, as well as a guest team from Ukraine, attended the 2-day event in Birmingham, which was hosted on behalf of the UK Rescue Organisation by West Midlands Fire Service.
Expert judges put firefighters through their paces across a range of challenges including collapsed structures, road traffic collisions, rope rescue from height, water rescue and trauma care.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service excelled to be named joint winners of the Heavy Rescue – Best Overall Team award, topping the table alongside West Midlands Fire Service.
HIWFRS also saw success with a 2nd place in the Trauma Challenge – Best Overall Team and another 2nd place for Rope Rescue – Best Technical team, as well as being named runner-up for Rope Rescue – Best Overall Team. A 3rd place win was secured for Rope Rescue – Best Medic.
Phil Loach, Chief Fire Officer for West Midlands Fire Service, said:
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to host the festival and to showcase the best of Birmingham and the West Midlands. Many congratulations to all of the winners.
Article continues below this advertisement “While the festival is a competition, it’s also a rare and valuable opportunity for colleagues to learn from each other in such an environment and to be able to watch and ask questions and make valuable connections. It enhances the services we all provide to our communities.”
Reading IoW newspapers, its hardly surprising, considering the RTA, upside down vehicles and natural hazard rescue practices they carry out, almost on a daily basis.
Nevertheless, congratulations and well-deserved, by our local heroes.
not an Islander in that photo of the winning team! our fire brigade is just a bolt on these days
Well said! Not a single Islander in that picture. And yes, the Island is the poor relation now.
Many unnessecary motoring incidents on the Island due to speeding.
If you drive through Park Lane in London and drive at 23 miles an hour
In a 20 zone, you will get fined £92
On the Island you can drive 50 or 60 in a 30 zone and you don’t receive anything.
The Island driving laws are a joke.
No wonder so many accidents happen.
Speed camera’s like the ones in London need installing on this LAWLESS island.
Save lives and save Fireman’s time.