Each year South Wales Fire and Rescue Service organises an inter Station challenge to select representation for the National Challenge. ‘Extrication’ is the term used in the Fire and Rescue Service for using hydraulic cutting equipment to remove a roof or part of a car, to retrieve a casualty or casualties who may be trapped inside.

The methods used, ensure that the casualty does not suffer any further injury and it takes a team of highly trained firefighters to carry this out in a planned and rehearsed way.

The team of six Porthcawl Firefighters have been putting in huge effort in their own time to train for the competition, and have benefited from help from world extrication team competitors (and former champions), Station Manager Shaun Moody and Watch Manger Roger Magan. 

Crew Manager Peter Bevan at Porthcawl said, “Training for this competition has been really beneficial to the crew, as we have improved our co-ordination as a team and have practised a range of different scenarios which will help us for real life incidents.”

“Not many retained crews usually enter the competition, as it takes up a lot of our own time to practice. Retained crews are usually only on station for a couple of hours a week, but we were all really enthusiastic to take part, so have trained to get up to scratch.”

 The team from Porthcawl consists of:

• Crew Manager Peter Bevan
• Firefighter Nathan Bennet
• Firefighter Jeff Tombs
• Firefighter Homi Parvini
• Firefighter Rob Bailey
• Firefighter Rob Collins

 This is an ideal opportunity for crews to become involved and demonstrate their skills and professionalism in casualty extrication.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Inter-Station Challenge will be held on Saturday 16 May 2009 at Cardiff Gate, Training and Development Centre, Pontprennau, Cardiff.

Other teams entering the competition are:

Bridgend Fire Station (South Wales)

Barry Fire Station (South Wales)

Porthcawl Fire Station (South Wales)

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Guest Teams:

London Fire Brigade

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service