Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bay Search and Rescue who specialise in providing 24/7 emergency response to incidents in involving quicksand and mud flats.

As part of the agreement, Lancashire Combined Fire Authority's Resources Committee agreed to provide Bay Search and Rescue with a number of redundant items of the fire service's equipment to assist the service that they provide. 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Paul Richardson said: "We are delighted to enter into the Memorandum of understanding with Bay Search and Rescue Team. The partnership will enable Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to call out Bay Search and Rescue to incidents within Morecambe Bay and moorland areas to enhance and support the operations of the fire service."

Gary Parsons, Station Officer and Chairman of BSAR said: "This is to enable the two organisations to work together formally, exchanging knowledge in joint training in their relevant specialist fields, making live incidents safer for all."

Gary added: "Based in Flookburgh, Cumbria, the team assist the Coastguard, Police, Ambulance Service and first responders on and around the Morecambe Bay area and we have the capability and capacity to provide assistance and support at moorland fires.

"The Bay Search and Rescue's vehicles include a Hagglund All Terrain Emergency Rescue Vehicle (ATERV) and a Hagglund ATERV cargo carrier with crane. These tracked vehicles, originally designed for military use in the Arctic, are capable of travelling safely over almost any terrain and have full amphibious capabilities." 

For the Bay Rescue Team this already adds to the MOU signed with Cumbria Fire and Rescue in 2009, just before the Cumbrian floods of that year. The team played an intrinsic role in the 2009 floods in Cockermouth, said Gary, conducting over 22 rescues in just 48 hours, mainly during the night.

 

Posted April 13th, 2012 at 1050 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com