Two Lincolnshire firefighters have returned to the county following a major international deployment with the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team’s response to earthquakes in Venezuela.
Two Lincolnshire firefighters have returned to the county following a major international deployment with the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team’s response to earthquakes in Venezuela.
Darren Burchnall and Martin Lang from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were part of the team based in La Guaira and working within that area and La Llanada. Arriving in Venezuela on 27 June, during their deployment UK ISAR played a key role alongside Venezuelan authorities, United Nations agencies and global response partners.
The UK sent 68 personnel, including firefighters and medical, engineering and veterinary specialists, along with six search dogs in response to the earthquakes of 24 June. They worked alongside teams from Chile, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Qatar and Ecuador as part of a coordinated multinational response.
The team carried out extensive search, reconnaissance and structural assessment activity across earthquake-affected communities - conducting street-by-street assessments of hundreds of damaged buildings, identifying hazards and humanitarian needs, helping safely clear structures and determining where further search and rescue efforts should be focused.
Darren who is usually based at Spalding fire station, was no stranger to international incidents, having previously been deployed to Morrocco. He said: “My first impression was how intense the heat and humidity were when we arrived - it was a stark environment. But once we were on the ground, my focus shifted immediately to the job at hand I was eager to put our training into practice. We operated across several disciplines, supporting the search dog teams and using acoustic equipment to search buildings, alongside conducting manual search and rescue work within the debris.
“The UK team was brilliant. We had a very strong support network throughout the entire deployment, which made all the difference on the ground.
Martin is based at Lincoln South fire station and was part of a group using advanced casualty location technology and ‘breaching and breaking’ through walls and collapsed structures to support the search efforts. Having taken part in various exercises with UK ISAR, this was his first deployment abroad.
He said: “We never really want to put our training to use as this would mean someone is in need of us. But due to the realistic facilities where we train at Waddington, I felt I was as prepared as I could have been to be deployed to an earthquake incident.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team to have my first deployment with. The level of professionalism and skills are incredible. I’m very proud to have represented Lincolnshire and the UK in this deployment and knowing that our actions helped and supported people in their time of need.”
Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, Mark Baxter, said: “Search and rescue activities are a really important part of what the fire service does and our teams train all year round so they can support at incidents both in the UK and abroad. The conditions in Venezuela were really challenging and I want to thank all of the personnel who I know worked tirelessly during this phase of the recovery efforts.”
Cllr Alex McGonigle, executive councillor for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected in this devastating humanitarian disaster and I’m proud that our service could play a small part in helping those communities whose lives have been torn apart. Martin and Darren have represented the very best of Lincolnshire and the UK.
“I’d also like to thank the teams behind the scenes who support these incidents from the UK, ensuring the welfare of the teams on the ground. And it’s a year-round effort to maintain the training and learning needed - it really is a whole team co-ordinated effort to make sure our dedicated firefighters can respond to such high standards.