Wimbledon is one of six additional locations in the capital to be equipped with a Fire Rescue Unit (FRU) as London Fire Brigade boosts its fleet of these specialist vehicles
Although FRUs have always been an important part of the London Fire Brigade’s specialist capabilities, the additional ones are a key part of the programme of improvements in staffing and equipment undertaken by London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and the London Fire Brigade since 2001 to improve the capital’s resilience and capability to deal with major emergencies, including the threat of terrorism.
The FRUs are equipped with heavy lifting, winching, cutting and pulling tools, floodlighting, longer duration breathing apparatus (vital for rescuing people from tunnels deep underground), decontamination equipment for use at chemical spillages, portable generators and other specialised equipment. FRU crews are specially trained and equipped to handle complex rescues, including those from road and rail accidents, water, mud and ice, urban search and rescue incidents such as collapsed buildings, chemical spills and difficult rescues at height.
Nine of the Brigade’s existing fleet of Fire Rescue units were successfully mobilised to deal with the aftermath of the London bombings on 7 July, 2005.FRUs are also regularly used when the Brigade attends road traffic collisions.
Borough Commander for Merton Andy Roberts said: “Since the huge loss of life witnessed in the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks in New York the London Fire Brigade has been working to increase its resilience and improve its ability to respond and deal with the new terrorist risk and other major emergencies. The 16 Fire Rescue Units we will have based at strategic locations across London, including Merton, will, along with the Brigade’s other specialist vehicles and equipment, help us meet these challenges and improve public safety in the event of a major incident.”
As well as Wimbledon, additional FRUs will be based at Millwall, Chelsea, Paddington, Clerkenwell and Bethnal Green Fire Stations. This is in addition to the FRUs that the London Fire Brigade already has stationed at Euston, Battersea, East Ham, Heston, Edmonton, Hornchurch, Wembley, Lewisham, Bexley and Croydon.
Note to editors:
• The programme of improvements in staffing and equipment undertaken by the London Fire Brigade since 2001 to improve the capital’s resilience and its capability to deal with major emergencies, including the threat of terrorism has included: 10 incident response units; two scientific support units; four urban search & rescue (USAR) units; one interim USAR unit, and ten USAR personnel carriers; three mass decontamination resilience units; ten personnel carriers; six equipment lorries
• The first of the Brigade’s new FRUs arrived at Millwall in February, and the remaining five will be introduced at intervals throughout the year after that.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
