Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue reflects on devastating earthquake in Turkey
Four members of Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue went to Turkey to help with rescue efforts after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Over a hundred days ago a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey, UK teams were sent to help with relief effort and several of those were from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.
The earthquake that caused the deaths of over 50,000 people hit Turkey and Syria, one month ago today, and caused destruction across the two countries.
Amongst those that travelled to help with relief efforts in Hatay, Turkey, were four Lincolnshire firefighters.
They will be part of a 76- strong team from the UK who had been requested to assist.
Experienced dog handler from Sleaford, Neil Woodmansey was also part of the team with Colin – his search and rescue dog.
The other three members were Crew Manager Colin Calam, from Sleaford fire station, Crew Manager Mark Dungworth, from Lincoln South fire station, and Group Captain Ashley Hildred who is usually based at Headquarters in Nettleham.
We spoke to Ashley how he felt about the rescue missions in Hatay, a hundred days after the disaster:
"100 days seems a long time, and it does still feel a bit like yesterday. So that's surprising itself.
"Reflecting on what happened... I think I'm still processing some of those experiences, if I'm honest. It was, a very different environment to what we actually get put into through a training environment, and there was lots of, I suppose, emotional impact that I wasn't expecting or prepared for, coming back from Turkey - and there's a whole range of reasons.
"But it was an overwhelming experience that until you've been and experienced it, then I don't think you can ever really be prepared for it."
He continued to say that they have since improved some of their equiptment:
"It's a key part to any response really, having a structured debrief, and that's what we did as a national team.
"We've also had internal debriefs within Lincolnshire with our personnel, and there's lots and lots to learn from, and things that we can improve on, and do better for the next time.
"Even though there were lots of successes and positives, it's been seven years since the UK team deployed to a major earthquake. So in that time, there's plenty that's changed and moved on.
"So some elements that've changed are, that we've bought new communications equipment already. We did have this in hand, but Turkey was a real limitation from connectivity and communication. So that's been purchased and is now ready for the next deployment.
"We also left all of our tents, personal tents and team tents, donated them to Turkey for what they needed, and for the local communities. But now we are going and buying new ones, that are more suitable, for better conditions. Fundamentally, we're learning from what we need in the future of a base operations.
"So yeah, we have learnt from that deployment. We are putting some of that into place. There is more we can do to make sure we're better prepared going forwards, and especially with those new members - like the loads who were on the Turkey deployment who haven't been through that experience before - and it's important we share that experience and knowledge throughout the team, because these events don't happen very often... so we need to get as much learning as we can when they do."
Now, a hundred days on, the devastation continues with thousands still displaced, without a home.
Ashley said it was the local people that he remembers the most:
"It didn't feel like there were really traumatic scenes for us to process, and deal with, that wasn't the scenario. But the the lasting impact and where I go back to, and I know talking to other team members it's the same... It's the survivors, really.
"It's the the loved ones. It's the family members that you interact with and speak to that still have some hope and that their their family are save-able, and we were making those decisions about where we did send our resources to try and make a rescue, and of course, those that we had to say, 'I'm really sorry, we can't help you' and move on.
"We're just not used to doing that in our day-to-day jobs, and that was the bit that's different.
"But I'm really keen and it is important that we do focus on the good we did, and actually the UK team being involved in those eight successful rescues, that's the impact that really does bring it home, and |I think even one rescue is worthwhile us travelling, going through that, because the impact of that is everlasting for that family."