Community

UK search and rescue teams gather for training exercises in Wales

Published

9 months ago

May 5, 2024

LAST week, members of the UK’s domestic and international search and rescue teams came together to carry out highly specialised training in Wales’s capital city.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and International Search and Rescue (ISAR) teams are typically deployed in the wake of events such as natural disasters or acts of terrorism, and are responsible for finding and freeing trapped people.

From Monday 22nd April to Wednesday 24th, teams from across the UK rallied in Cardiff and Gloucester for training exercises, travelling from fire service bases in Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, West Midlands, Scotland, South Wales, and Mid and West Wales.

Utilising both the Heath hospital and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the teams conducted dog and drone exercises as part of routine training which is vital in aiding their search and rescue efforts. With the assistance of eight highly specialised sniffer dogs and state of the art drone equipment, the team practiced their urban search and rescue training across three days.

Kevin Dite, Watch Manager at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and USAR/ ISAR team member, said: “Different drones are deployed for different reasons. The cameras are useful for open area searching, and some have thermal imaging capabilities, stability systems, and of course they can cover large areas much faster than we can.

“We tend to do this training quarterly, at a minimum. The dogs need to be kept intact and protected, and of course, drone work has a massive skill fade as it’s such intricate flying, so we try and do it as regularly as we can. It’s also about getting the dogs used to the drones; with the low-level humming in the background something that will be constant for them in their rescues.”

In the event of a large-scale disaster, it is safer to send small drones into buildings, followed by the dogs with their acute sense of smell, to search for missing people. The dogs are trained to ‘alert’ to a live person by barking until their handler arrives and rewards them with a favourite toy.

Once the search team pinpoints a lost person, they have a range of tools at hand to make an area safe and to free trapped people. Every rescue is different, but might including shoring up fallen masonry, cutting through debris to help someone to safety, or using heavy lifting equipment to create exit routes.

Last year, some members of these teams were deployed to Malawi, Morocco, and Turkey after national disasters struck the areas – with the drones, the dogs, and their handlers in situ.

Tristan Bowen, USAR team leader and ISAR team member, said: “The dogs are useful because they will do the job of 20 technicians in half the time. They can collapse themselves into the smallest spaces and have been trained to search for live bodies in destitute areas, using their remarkable scent to detect human life, and can pick up on sweat, carbon dioxide, aftershave or perfume, etc.

“Part of this training involves exposing our operatives to the different scenarios they may come across; be it cold weather survival, hot places, urban areas, city centres, or large-scale venues. We will all be familiar with the explosion which occurred at the Manchester Arena after the Ariana Grande concert in 2017, so the idea is to expose our dogs in the event of deploying into any kind of structure which could pose issues to them in terms of the number of people, the actual scale and size of the building, and all the hidden voids within the building.

“We get deployed internationally quite regularly. I’ve been to Turkey, Nepal, Haiti, and Christchurch New Zealand to assist international relief efforts. As you can imagine, it’s no small feat to ship us all out – we’re classed as a heavy rescue team with all our equipment; including technicians, doctors, vets, dog handlers, structural engineers – the team is huge.

Crew Manager Niamh Darcy and her dog, Vesper, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, are both members of the USAR and ISAR teams. Vesper works as a search and rescue dog as part of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), and has been deployed to numerous disasters, most recently the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco. Alongside her handler, she has been responsible for locating multiple live casualties and reuniting them with their families.

Vesper also won the Crufts Hero Dog Award 2024 this year, within the category of ‘Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog’ – a category which was open to fire services, the police, and the army.

Niamh said: “Vesper can clear a building by herself and can indicate to me if there is no need for us to enter a building. These dogs do an awful lot of agility training; you really need a dog that’s meticulous in this kind of role, they run over rubble piles and zone in on a hit, and once the canines have done their job then we commit and zone in on an area to break or breach or lift things off people.

“Malis in general are a very bright breed. They have a very high mental capacity, are very agile, and Vesper in particular is extremely friendly and sociable. However, even if the dogs are proficient in searching, they still need that exposure to travel with you, and they need stamina. We can go for up to 14-hour days when we’re deployed, and she’s very adaptable in that sense.”

A spokesperson said: “Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response cover, public safety information and prevention and protection programmes across 12,000 square kilometres, which is almost two-thirds of Wales. It is the third largest Fire and Rescue Service in the UK and covers six local authorities areas: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys and the City and County of Swansea.

“South Wales Fire and Rescue Service aims to make south Wales safer, by reducing risk. We work to protect and serve across the 10 Unitary Authorities that make up our diverse area, working in partnership with our colleagues in other frontline services.”

Community

Fire crews join St Davids Cathedral on collaborative training day

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CREWS from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service joined staff at St Davids Cathedral on Thursday for a collaborative training day, blending skills and expertise in a unique historic setting.

The fire service conducted a series of exercises, including a dramatic rescue simulation, where they practiced retrieving a ‘body’ from the cathedral tower. The exercise demonstrated the precision and teamwork required for emergency scenarios, particularly in complex environments like heritage buildings.

Such training is essential due to the unique challenges posed by historic landmarks. St Davids Cathedral, with its ancient architecture and narrow stairways, presents potential obstacles in emergency situations. Fire crews must be prepared to navigate these complexities to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and the preservation of the structure itself.

Additionally, the presence of large numbers of visitors during peak periods increases the need for effective response strategies. Collaboration between the cathedral’s staff and emergency services ensures everyone is prepared to act swiftly and efficiently in the event of a fire or medical emergency.

A spokesperson for St Davids Cathedral said: “It was great to have the fire crews join us – their training exercises added an exciting and valuable dimension to our day. Their work highlights the importance of being prepared for any eventuality.”

The fire service also benefited from the day, as training in real-world settings like St Davids Cathedral helps refine their approach to tackling emergencies in historic and culturally significant buildings.

Photo caption: Rescue simulation: Fire crews conducted a ‘body’ rescue from the tower during a joint training day (Pic: St Davids Cathedral).

Community

Major progress in plan to reduce tidal flooding in Cardigan

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PLANS to mitigate tidal flooding in the Strand area of Cardigan, West Wales, have reached a key milestone with the appointment of specialist consultancy firm Binnies to lead the Detailed Design Phase of the Cardigan Tidal Flood Scheme.

Flood wall to protect homes and businesses

The scheme, spearheaded by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), involves constructing a flood wall along the riverbank, extending from Gloster Row Carpark to Cardigan Bridge. The wall is expected to reduce tidal flood risks for around 90 homes and businesses, significantly improving safety and community resilience.

Binnies, a consultancy renowned for expertise in flood risk management, will oversee critical aspects of the project, including the design of construction materials and ensuring resilience against future climate challenges. The design phase will also explore opportunities to enhance the local environment and create new community spaces.

NRW collaboration with Binnies

Paul Isaac, NRW’s Project Executive for the scheme, said: “This is a pivotal moment for the Cardigan Tidal Flood Scheme. We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Binnies, whose expertise – along with ours – will enable us to make good progress through the Detailed Design Phase. Together, we are confident in producing a design that not only addresses the immediate flood risks but also creates long-term value for the community and environment.”

Timeline and next steps

The Detailed Design Phase is expected to be completed by early 2026, after which a planning application will be submitted to Ceredigion County Council. Upon approval and securing funding, construction is projected to begin later in 2026.

This milestone follows the October publication of the proposed flood wall outline, further demonstrating NRW’s commitment to protecting Cardigan from tidal flooding. The project is funded by the Welsh Government, reflecting its broader focus on enhancing climate resilience across Wales.

Flood risk awareness campaign

With 1 in 7 properties in Wales at risk of flooding and extreme weather becoming more frequent due to the climate emergency, NRW urges residents to take proactive steps:

Check flood risk by postcode on NRW’s website.
Sign up for free flood warnings, available in Welsh and English.
Be prepared when flooding is forecast.

Stay informed

A digital newsletter has been launched to keep residents and stakeholders updated on the scheme’s progress. Sign up for updates here: https://bit.ly/CTFSNewsletter.

This project is a vital step toward safeguarding the future of Cardigan, ensuring the town is better protected against the increasing risks posed by tidal flooding.

Community

Welsh International Culinary Championships to showcase best of Wales

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AROUND 150 talented chefs, front of house staff, apprentices and students from across Wales will showcase their skills over three days of competitions at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) 2025 next week.

The International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) in Newport will become the Welsh hospitality, butchery, food and drink hub from Monday to Wednesday, as competitors seek to make a name for themselves on the national stage.

Welsh Culinary Association National Chef of Wales Competition at the ICC Wales. Picture by Phil Blagg Photography. PB005-2024

Four coveted national titles will be at stake as well as Skills Competition Wales glory at the WICC which hosts a Castell Howell Food Show for the first time.

The WICC is open free of charge to visitors, including pupils of local schools. Visitors can pre-book tickets to experience the dishes cooked in three finals at: [email protected] .

Organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), the WICC will feature the National Chef of Wales and Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year Finals on Monday, Skills Competition Wales competitions on Tuesday and the Vegan and Junior Chef of Wales Finals on Wednesday, followed by the awards dinner in the evening.

WICC skills classes, organised by the CAW, will also be held over the three days.

The National Chef of Wales final will be contested by 10 chefs. Sam Everton from Llangeler, Llandysul, a catering lecturer at Coleg Ceredigion, Cardigan, will be bidding to win the Junior and National Chef of Wales competitions in consecutive years. The only chef to achieve this feat was Danny Burke, from Connah’s Quay who now runs Olive Tree Catering, Runcorn.

Wayne Barnard from Caerphilly, who works at Llechwen Hall Hotel near Pontypridd, will be hoping to improve on his third place last year while Matthew Owen from Cardiff and Rebekah Wright, from Ebbw Vale, who both work at the Celtic Manor Resort, return for another shot at the final.

They will line up with Celtic Manor Resort colleagues Patrick Millard from Bargoed, Ionut Rosca from Newport, Gareth Jenkins from Fleur de Lis and Pratik Bhandarkar from Newport.

The other finalists are Sam Rust from Swansea, who works at The Grove, Narberth, and Jordan Howorth from Baschurch, who works at Shrewsbury School for Independents by Sodexo and helped the Culinary Team Wales win a gold medal at the Alen Thong Golden Coffee Pot Young Chef Challenge in Sharjah in May.

The finalists will have three hours to cook three courses for 12 diners featuring GI Welsh ingredients and Cygnet Gin. The menu must include a plant-based starter suitable for a vegan diet, a main course featuring two different cuts of GI Welsh Beef and a dessert featuring hot, cold and chocolate elements and a biscuit or tuille.

The Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year final will be contested by Kieran Thomas, who works for Albert Rees Ltd, Carmarthen Market and Ollie Holden-Davies, who works for Neil Powell Butchers, Hay-on-Wye.

Sponsored by the CAW and Cambrian Training Company, the competition allows the butchers 30 minutes to cut a whole Welsh Lamb carcass into primal joints and one hour and 40 minutes to create a visually exciting display of products showcasing their skills and creativity.

Rebekah Wright will also contest the Welsh Vegan Chef of the Year final against Celtic Manor Resort colleague Byron Burns, from Pontypool and former National Chef of Wales winner Ryan Jones, from Maesteg, head chef at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. They will cook a three course menu for six diners in two-and-a-half hours.

The competition, sponsored by Henley Bridge, challenges chefs to cook an appetiser with 50% warm components, a main course with a minimum of three components, including microgreens and a dessert including chocolate, tea and two fruit puree products.

The Junior Chef of Wales finalists are Katie Duffy who works at The Halfway, Llanelli who finished third last year, Junior Culinary Team Wales captain Calum Smith who works at Shrewsbury School for Independents at Sodexo and Niruth Wijetunga and Gold Ayinia-Adeyemi, both from Newport, who work at Celtic Manor Resort.

The chefs will have two-and-a-half hours to cook a three course pescatarian meal for six diners with a plant-based starter suitable for a vegan diet, a main course featuring trout and a dessert including one hot and one chocolate element. The competition is sponsored by Cygnet Gin.

The winner will be automatically seeded into the UK semi-final of the Young National Chef of the Year.

Winners of all three competitions, together with the Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year, will be announced at the awards dinner.

CAW president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, said: “It promises to be a fantastic three days of competitions to showcase the culinary, hospitality and butchery talent, as well as the quality Welsh food and drink products, that we have here in Wales.

“This time next year, we shall be in the final stages of preparing to host the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 at ICC Wales – the first time this global event will have been held in the UK.

“Hopefully, the WICC will help identify the chefs who will represent Wales in finals at the global event. As the host, Wales has been gifted places in the Global Chef Challenge, Young Chef Challenge, Vegan Chef and Pastry Chef finals.

Sponsors of the WICC are Castell Howell, Cambrian Training Company, Roller Grill UK, MCS Technical Products, Capital Cuisine, Churchill, Cygnet Gin, Henley Bridge, Food and Drink Wales, Kentaur, City & Guilds UK, Essential Cuisine, Ecolab, Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales, Terry’s Patisserie Ltd, Willo Game, Fresh & Tasty Microgreens, Radnor Hills, Robot Coupe and Friedr Dick GmbH & Co.

Pictured: The Welsh International Culinary Championships will showcase culinary, hospitality and butchery talent over three days.