Check out how the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service – rope team are preparing for the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation “Festival of Rescue” which is taking place on the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside on Friday and Saturday 17th and 18th September.

There will be over 300 competitors from 25 UK fire and rescue services battling it out across 5 specialist disciplines: Vehicle Extrication, Trauma Care, Urban Search and Rescue, Rope Rescue, and Water Rescue

Crew Manager Alec Bowen, Competition rope team manager, said:

“Aside from our normal technical rope training we’ve been focussing on the lessons learnt from previous UKROs and Grimpdays and weaknesses we have identified.

“As always there’s a sense of apprehension and excitement about the challenges we’ll face, however this will fade come the competition day and we’ll get to do something we love in a new challenging environment in a city that’s new to us too.

“We hope to be able to show not only the visitors but also competitors in other disciplines at the event that rope rescue is a mature and comprehensive technical rescue discipline, reinforcing the varied modern role that firefighters undertake.

“UKRO is essential in providing a snapshot of many services approaches to the same challenges, an opportunity to share ideas and learn from our colleagues in a competitive environment as well as have a peer reviewed assessment of our own capabilities and performance. All of this driving standards up and directing our methods and standards for the next 12 months plus.”

The site for the free event is open both days between 8am-5pm. Don’t just take Crew Manager Bowen’s word for it get yourself down to experience the “Festival of Rescue”.

For further information please visit: www.twfire.gov.uk/…/2021-ukro-challenge-festival…

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