Fire and Rescue Service hosts ‘Out of the Blue’!

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is hosting a very special event at Bute Park, Cardiff on July 12th. ‘Out of the Blue’ is the Emergency Services and Community Safety event open to everyone.

With an array of over 50 attractions ranging from hot air balloons, dancers, parachutists, Fire and Rescue Service and Police displays, to ‘dunk the firefighter’ and sports ‘master classes’ from high profile sports clubs, Out of the Blue is likely to tempt thousands of visitors from all over South Wales.

On Saturday 12th July at 10am, Bute Park opens its gates to the general public for a day of entertainment and interesting and interactive displays all for free. More information on the attractions can be found on the official website www.outoftheblue.uk.net.

Amongst the entertainment, Firefighters will be impressing crowds with displays including chip pan fires, urban search and rescue, mini helicopter used in operations, sprinklers at work, driving emergency vehicles, boat rescue, using extinguishers, handling 999 calls and mobilising appliances all over South Wales.

The event will provide an excellent day out for families looking for something to do on a summery Saturday. Members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been extremely busy making ‘Out of the Blue’ the biggest Community Safety event to ever have been organised in the UK by a Fire and Rescue Service.

Also included in the entertainment, visitors will find a mix of interactive displays from partner organisations such as Crimestoppers, Cardiff Council Road Safety, Cardiff Council Public Health, Careers Wales, The Red Cross and many more hoping keep people safe, informed and aware of the services available to them.

The event runs over two days, but Friday 11th July is for schools only and currently around 5,000 school children are booked on this day.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Brian Fraser said

“The event will showcase the diverse range of functions the modern-day Fire and Rescue Service has. We want people to realise that we do more than just put out fires! Working with our partnership agencies we are able to stage an entertaining event that should make the public of South Wales aware of the work going on to ensure they stay safe, whilst having a very enjoyable day.”

The event will take place alongside one of the highest profile competitions for Fire and Rescue Services in the world. The ‘World Rescue Wales 2008’ competition is entered by Firefighters from across the globe, hoping to take the title for the best ‘extrication’ team when dealing with casualties trapped in crashed cars. This takes place in Cardiff International Arena on 11th and 12th July and is also open to the public free of charge.

During World Rescue Wales and also at the CIA, the UK’s ‘Fittest Rescuer’ competition which simulates Firefighter tasks that will push their fitness levels to the very limit will get underway. Up to 50 Firefighters from all over the UK will compete individually for this new title over a specially designed Firefighting course, making it a very entertaining competition for spectators to come and watch. For more information on World Rescue Wales 2008 visit www.worldrescue-wales.org.uk.