N E W R E S C U E B OAT S
Making waves Ten water rescue teams are now in place to protect Lincolnshire in the event of flooding We all hope widespread flooding won’t strike Lincolnshire again – but it’s always best to be prepared. With that in mind, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has taken delivery of 10 new rescue boats, giving it one of the biggest fleets in the entire UK. Each is crewed by a specially trained, fully equipped water rescue team, making Lincolnshire one of the country’s best prepared areas for flooding. The teams will be based at fire stations in Boston, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Louth, Sleaford and Spalding. The locations have been chosen to give the best coverage and response times, 24 hours a day. The new craft will be deployed in the event of a major flood, as well as to carry out water-based search and rescue operations across Lincolnshire.
Cllr Peter Robinson, executive councillor for community safety, said: “Flooding, especially from the sea, is one of the biggest threats facing our county. The last time Lincolnshire was inundated was in 1953, when severe storms and high tides caused floodwaters to breach sea defences and claimed 41 lives. “Sea defences, warning systems and emergency plans have all improved but the new water rescue teams will make Lincolnshire even better prepared.” Besides protecting Lincolnshire, the new teams can be called upon to help other parts of the country in the event of widespread flooding, such as that seen in the summer of 2007. For more information about Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr or phone 01522 582222.
See them in action Every day of the year, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue stands ready to respond to calls for help. But it’s not just flames that it tackles. Its specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team is on hand to deal with anything from collapsed buildings to international disasters. This summer, you can see them put their skills into action for two days of live demonstrations involving 130 rescue teams from across the UK. There’ll also be family activities and advice for anyone interested in joining the service. The UK Rescue Challenge takes place around the University of Lincoln and Brayford Pool on 24 and 25 August. Visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr or contact 01522 582222. countynews
| summer 2012
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