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A Water Rescue Unit is located at Cooper Avon Fire Station. The
appliance carries specialist equipment for dealing with flooding,
salvage and rescues from or near water, mud and slurry as well as
two inflatable boats, environmental protection equipment and additional
personal protective equipment.
The purpose of the Water Rescue Unit is to provide a rapid response
and support to any water related incident in the FRS area. Although
the FRS has no legal obligation to attend these incidents, the
community will always ask for our help, as they see the Fire Service
as the Emergency Service best equipped to assist.
Examples of incidents that the Unit could attend are;_
Flooding - persons trapped
The vehicle carries two inflatable boats, a 3.4m Rib for faster
and deeper water (trailer mounted) and a 2.5m Roll-a-Way boat for
shallower work. Both boats are provided with outboard motors.
Flooding salvage work
The vehicle is equipped with Aqua-Vacs, small portable pump,
sump pump, squeegees, brooms and absorbent matting etc.
Pollution of waterways
Although these particular incidents are the responsibility of
the Environmental Agency, the FRS has an agreement to assist.
The vehicle carries fence booms, absorbent booms and various absorbent
materials to clean up a spillage.
Incidents near or around water
It is inevitable that fire crews will find themselves working
near water on occasions i.e. pumping from open water, boat fires
etc. The Water Rescue Unit is equipped with additional levels of
PPE to make such work easier and safer.
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