United Kingdom: International Search and Rescue
UK-ISAR is a co-operative group of several UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) under the governance of the Chief Fire Officers Association. Each constituent FRS contributes competent personnel and equipment plus arrangements to provide these resources when requested in line with the conditions laid down. The team responds primarily to overseas urban search and rescue emergencies on behalf of the UK Government but also carries out other activities deemed appropriate.
Strategic Aim
UK-ISAR’s strategic aim is to support a mechanism through which the United Kingdom can comply with the principles of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/150 “Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance”. As part of this aim UK-ISAR also supports the United Kingdom’s commitment to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
Primary Function
The primary function of UK-ISAR is to provide a team the UK Government can deploy to overseas emergencies normally involving search and rescue from collapsed structures. UK-ISAR provides and manages this capability, on behalf of the UK FRS, in the most operationally effective way and in line with accepted international and UK standards. The current team structure is classified by the UN as a ‘Heavy USAR Team’ under the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) guidelines. This classification is valid for the current team structure until 2014 when the team will be required to undergo a re-classification process. This classification also allows the team to deploy as an INSARAG ‘Medium USAR Team’. UK-ISAR also provides both Medium and Heavy USAR Modules to respond as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism system.
Secondary Functions
UK-ISAR will also respond to other emergency humanitarian tasks or missions that are considered appropriate by the UK-ISAR Management Group. UK-ISAR will also provide assistance where possible to support capacity building of search and rescue capabilities in developing countries to improve local and regional response services. UK-ISAR will also provide additional USAR resilience in the event of a UK emergency if it is deemed appropriate.
Date of participation in the modules field exercises:
20 - 22 January 2012, Moreton-in-Marsh, UK (M-USAR)
Number of modules members that will participate in the exercise:
65 persons
Equipment:
There will be 9 vehicles that participate in the exercise:
2 18T trucks
5 minibuses
1 command vehicle
1 canine vehicle
Contact person for planning the exercise:
Mr. John Mazzey
E-Mail: john.mazzey@kent.fire-uk.org
Phone: +44 7775626957