Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service scooped second place in this year’s UK Rescue Organisation (UKRO) competition - the Festival of Rescue. 
 

Hosted by West Midlands Fire Service, the teams did the county proud, going one place better than last year. 
 

The event saw around 40 fire and rescue services around the UK and even further afield compete in five disciplines: Trauma Care, Rope Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Vehicle Extrication and Water Rescue. 
 

The NFRS teams came home with a raft of awards. 

3rd - Water Rescue Incident Commander (IC) 

2nd - Extrication IC 

2nd - Extrication Tech (Tools) Team, 

1st - Extrication Medic Team 

2nd - overall best extrication team 

4th - overall in the HGV scenario 

4th - overall best water rescue team 
 

A huge well done to the Vehicle Extrication team, Richie Fairbairn, Steve Wight, Steve Wickham, Ian Rumney, Paul Makepeace, Robbie Mavin and James Kidman and the Water Rescue team Andy Irvine, Paul Cameron, Steve Walker and Ashley Hibbit. 
 

Chief Fire Officer Paul Hedley said: “This was an absolutely fantastic achievement considering we were competing against the very best rescue teams from around the UK.  
 

“The scenario exercises were carried out in front of a live audience and show the skill and precision with which our firefighters carry out their work. 

“And while they may have been scenarios, these are exactly the kind of incidents our crews train for and deal with throughout the year – 24/7, and we feed all that learning and best practice back into the service so our communities can be assured we have highly skilled water and vehicle rescue teams right across Northumberland. 
 

“I’m extremely proud of every single one of the team, demonstrating professionalism and experience of the highest level and once again being outstanding ambassadors from NFRS and Northumberland County Council.”