Firefighters being up-skilled to provide specialist emergency response

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority logo

A new team is being set up to provide enhanced skills during emergency incidents in Greater Manchester.

Changing risks in society mean that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is being used to deal with more bariatric rescues, terrorist threats, rescues from height, collapsed building search and rescue operations, body recovery and trench rescue than ever before.

Whilst GMFRS has always had specialist equipment, existing capabilities have limitations.

So a Technical Response Unit (TRU) is being created to provide specialist response for the whole of Greater Manchester whilst still being available for life-risk incidents, including fire and road traffic collisions.

Group Manager Jim Hutton, who's leading the project, said: "We're developing the TRU to bridge capability gaps in our technical response provision and ensure we're giving the best possible protection for the public and crews.

"Current operational staff will be up-skilled to provide additional technical response capabilities alongside their core firefighting skills.

"The TRU will comprise of two vehicles which will be crewed by 54 staff based across two locations - Ashton and Leigh fire stations.

"The locations provide wide geographical cover with the ability to reach any part of the county within 25 minutes. This capability will be implemented with minimum cost - providing a greater service and increased public value."

Staff within the Service will be sought to transfer to the TRU, with training planned for later in the year and the TRU is scheduled to be operational before the end of March 2014.

GMFRS currently has Enhanced Rescue Units (ERUs) at Ashton and Leigh which contain specialist rescue equipment such as ropes, heavy duty cutting equipment, jacks and larger air bags to deal with non-fire-related emergencies.

These vehicles will be converted to form the new TRU vehicles which - along with highly-trained crews - will provide an even greater response to incidents of a technical nature.

Tameside Borough Manager Jon Heydon said: "Tameside already has an enhanced rescue capability at our Ashton station and it is a natural progression for us to further develop this rescue provision. Not only will this make Greater Manchester safer, but it will bring an enhanced level of response to rescue emergencies within Tameside.

"We strive hard to reduce risk to people and property in all areas of the borough and have identified road traffic collisions and other none fire-related emergencies as areas we want to work harder at, to continue to make the people of Tameside safer.

"Once trained, these firefighters will be better equipped to address the changing hazards associated with increased road usage and other risks associated with construction, demolition and leisure."

"To be able to draw on the considerable expertise and knowledge that firefighters will receive following extensive training will continue to make Tameside a safer place to live, work and visit."

Borough Manager for Wigan, Steve Sheridan, said: "The TRU will enhance the service in the Wigan area and be of great benefit to the fire crews locally.

"Not only will we have further expertise but increased fire cover at night time. In addition, firefighters trained with additional skills will safeguard other staff at incidents."