WHEN disaster strikes in far-flung countries, there’s a team of dedicated Midlands firefighters waiting in the wings to come to people’s rescue – no matter how far away they are.
West Midlands Fire Service’s International Search and Rescue Team respond within 24 hours of a disaster, putting their own lives at risk to help save others.
The team, which is made up of 24 firefighters, aims to be on the ground quickly giving support – either through rescuing others or organising teams of help on the ground. In recent years they’ve attended disasters in Haiti, Sumatra, New Zealand, Pakistan, Turkey and, most recently, the high-profile earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March.
Crew Commander Peter Shepherd said the team were not heroes, just simply firefighters doing their jobs.
“We were really shocked to get this award and we feel very grateful, especially to get it from our local newspaper,” he said.
“We all feel privileged to be part of the team, we’ve all got our deployment bags packed and ready to go whenever we are needed.”
The team, which was first established in 1991, is registered with the United Nations and uses heavy equipment to break through concrete and uses search dogs to find survivors. But their job brings them into contact with scenes which would turn the stomach of a normal person.