This year our member United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) hosted its annual National Challenge in partnership with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.The event saw over 300 competitors from 25 UK fire and rescue services descend on to the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside to compete in Extrication, Trauma Care, Water Rescue and Rope Rescue.

The two-day national challenge replicates real-life scenarios, requiring teams to respond within tight time frames to world-class technical, medical and command standards whilst constantly being assessed by UKRO and World Rescue Organisation (WRO) assessors. The assessors come from around the United Kingdom to provide their expert experience and advice to assess competing teams.

Chris Lowther, Chief Fire Officer for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There has been an overwhelming response to the North East hosting such a prestigious event as the UKRO Festival of Rescue. The event truly has been embraced by thousands of residents and visitors to the region. It provided an invaluable spotlight for the fire and rescue service community to showcase the talents of dedicated firefighters and crew members whose skills help to save people’s lives on a daily basis, up and down the land.”

FIRE AID was delighted to see our supporting fire and rescue services ranking amongst the winning teams. Our long-term supporting FRS South Wales won both the extrication and rope rescue challenges, although London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) rope rescue team came close in second place. Our Steering Group member LFB also won first place in the trauma challenge whilst Hampshire FRS won best technical team during the extrication challenge. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the teams for their participation and demonstrating such a high level of professionalism and expertise.

Neil Odin – Chair of the UKRO and Chief Fire Officer of Hampshire FRS, said: “On behalf of the UKRO we would like to thank Tyne & Wear FRS and their amazing team for hosting such a fantastic event. It was great to see the local communities of the North East supporting the Festival of Rescue and witnessing such a professional range of skills being displayed by the UK Fire and Rescue Services. Our own superb UKRO volunteers were truly proud to assist in and deliver a great event and we look forward to the 2022 National Rescue Challenge in West Midlands FRS.”

Next years challenge will be hosted by West Midlands FRS see https://ukro.org/?page_id=36 for more details when available.