Urban Search and Rescue is part of the Government's New Dimension Programme, which seeks to enhance the capability of the fire and rescue service to respond to a range of major emergencies.

The programme was established following the 11 September 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York. This marked a turning point in the challenge posed by international terrorism and prompted the UK Government to review and improve the country's ability to respond to the increased risks.

This work involved a reappraisal of the response capacity and capability of the UK's emergency services. The Civil Resilience Directorate was formed in 2003 to co-ordinate the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (now Communities and Local Government) resilience programmes. Resilience is a term applied to the Government's arrangements for enhancing security.

The USAR Centre provides specialist training and operational facilities to enable the fire and rescue service to respond to a wide range of major emergencies. For example, responding to widespread flooding, storm damage and other natural disasters; building collapse; industrial accidents; terrorist incidents; energy and power failures.

Recent events which have impacted upon local communities, such as the London bombings and the tunnel collapse at Gerrards Cross illustrate the kind of major emergencies that the fire and rescue service has to deal with.

The USAR Centre is part of a strategic network of similar facilities throughout the country. Beaconsfield is strategically well located - and ensures an effective response is available for known risk areas in London and the Home Counties.

Click on the links below for two examples of incidents USAR have attended

Jurys Inn, Milton Keynes, 11 April 2006

Littleworth, Wing, 23 June 2007

Go to Beaconsfield Fire Station