Urban Search and Rescue Response

The Planned Response to Structural Collapse Incidents

Levels of Response

It is intended that any response to an incident involving structural collapse will consist of four sequential steps or levels. This system reflects levels of response currently within the service, and has already been identified by other capabilities within the New Dimension Programme, namely;

Level 1 Response – PDA involving local fire and rescue appliances and crews.

Level 2 Response - PDA plus the additional response of specialist appliances from within the F&RS where the incident occurred or from an adjoining F&RS. This may include the nearest USAR team if requested.

Level 3 Response- would include the attendance of reinforcing pumps and special appliances from neighbouring F&RS. It is generally accepted that such incidents could be dealt with using the resources from within a Region, or as a consequence of geographic location, adjoining region(s). It is anticipated that the nearest USAR team would be mobilised and additional support e.g. engineers, hazmat resources would be required.

Level 4 Response - will include large numbers of personnel and equipment from beyond the affected Region over an extended period of time.

It is possible for response to be expanded beyond the examples listed above should the scale, duration or complexity of the situation warrant such action. At this level further resources may be called upon from other nations that have an appropriate capability. Whilst it is likely that operational difficulties would be experienced, the system of work adopted by the New Dimension USAR Project is based on both the FEMA and INSARAG systems that are used by international teams and therefore operational differences, such as there are, will be manageable.

Attendance Times and Operations.

The early attendance of fire and rescue resources at a structural collapse incident is vital if lives are to be saved and the impact of the incident minimised. Whilst first responding crews require an awareness of the hazards and risks at such incidents and will need to dynamically assess their actions, the potential for life saving operations is high. Statistical evidence shows that the majority of survivors from a collapse are rescued by the local population and first responders. The need to control and extinguish fire in the debris is vital to the survival of trapped victims and will need to be an urgent task for the first responding crews. If the local responders are supported by the prompt attendance of specialist personnel and equipment, evidence shows that more difficult rescues can be resourced and that the level of risk to the fire and rescue personnel is reduced though the use of technology and the availability of specialist advice.

As the complexity of rescue operations increase, the surface victims having been located and removed, the need for specialist personnel and equipment increases both to maximise the opportunity for rescue and to minimise the risk to the rescuers. At this time non-specialist crews can be employed on other operational duties or used to support the specialist crews.