USAR is crewed by wholetime firefighters and supported by USAR Reserves who are based at other fire stations around Essex. This makes sure that the crew are available 24/7 and is ready to deploy to local, regional, and national major incidents.

The USAR team are highly trained specialists who provide support to partner agencies and frontline firefighters. Their specialist skills consist of Line Access and Casualty Extrication, Hot Cutting, Heavy Lifting, Chainsaw, Confined Space, Breaking and Breeching, Shoring, and more. They respond to incidents in Hook Lift Prime Movers that carry different Modules carrying over 8000 items of specialist equipment. 

Our USAR team also hosts the High-Volume Pump (HVP) which is also a national asset and can be deployed anywhere in the country to support with delivering water to the incident ground or, pumping water from one location to another. The HVP can pump 7000 lpm and carries 3 kilometers of 6” hose.

Our team also provides the Essex Technical Rescue capability which comprises of Swift Water Rescue (inc Power Boat), Rope Rescue, Drone Operations, Bariatric Rescue, and Trench Rescue. Incidents requiring the Technical Rescue team are often very complex and protracted and require their specialist skills, knowledge, and equipment to complete the rescue.