Essex Firefighters deployed to Turkey to help with earthquake rescue
Group Manager Scott Meekings, Crew Manager Bryn Jones and Watch Manager Steve Smith have gone to help
Three fire officers from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have been deployed to Turkey following the devastating earthquakes.
Group Manager Scott Meekings, Crew Manager Bryn Jones and Watch Manager Steve Smith will be assisting with the search and rescue operations.
They are part of the UK International Search and Rescue team, and will be working alongside colleagues from other UK fire and rescue services.
They have joined a 77-strong International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team which is made up of firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services, deployed through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The team is made up from fire services in Cheshire, Essex, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, Mid and West Wales, Merseyside, Scotland, South Wales and West Midlands.
Group Manager Scott Meekings, said: “The scenes in Turkey and Syria are truly devastating. After seeing the reports of the first earthquake on Monday morning, we started to prepare ourselves that we might be deployed.
"We couldn’t believe what we were seeing being reported on the news. The number of people killed, seriously injured and missing is shocking.
“After a long journey we are pleased to be finally here. Our immediate priority is to set up our equipment and get everything in order so we can get to work in the places most in need.
“Helping people in their time of need is what we do - it’s what all firefighters do everyday and it’s what we will be doing here.”
The service say the team will use their specialist skills and a range of technical equipment to help save lives, and they will also be supporting other emergency service teams already in the area.
UKISAR have specialist search equipment including seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, propping and shoring tools, listening and heavy lifting equipment.
The UKISAR team provide its own food, water, shelter, sanitation, communications and all necessary equipment to undertake search and rescue operations for up to 14 days.
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