17-Aug-2006
- With the majority of serious pollution incidents
across England and Wales now requiring joint action
between the Environment Agency and the Fire and
Rescue Service, a new emergency response protocol
has been agreed this week.
"The Fire and Rescue Service
is first on the scene at many incidents that can
cause pollution," said Environment Agency
Technical Advisor Bruce McGlashan, "and the
action they take can be crucial in preventing
or mitigating environmental damage."
"Many of the serious pollution
incidents we deal with are now joint operations
with the Fire and Rescue Service, and this close
working relationship has become one of our most
successful pollution-prevention initiatives, contributing
greatly to our responsibility for protecting and
improving the environment.
"The new emergency protocol
will further strengthen the relationship, by building
on existing education and training programs, encouraging
the development of local working agreements and
pollution response plans, and developing key initiatives
such as our scheme to supply pollution equipment
to the Fire and Rescue Service.
"Improved response to incidents
such as road traffic collisions involving tankers,
will help prevent oil, petrol, milk, beer and
other liquids polluting of culverts, drains, rivers,
streams, lakes and ponds.
"Only last month the Fire
& Rescue Service in northern Wales called-in
the Environment Agency after a traffic accident
involving a petrol tanker and a tractor. Despite
400 litres of foam being used on the highway,
environmental damage was averted after fire-fighters
used agency supplied equipment to prevent run-off
entering the drainage system."
The new protocol was developed
in partnership with the English and Welsh Local
Government Associations, the umbrella organisations
for local councils that fund fire and rescue services
- and representatives from the Chief Fire Officers
Association and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Fire Services.
It sets out the roles and responsibilities
of each body during and after an emergency, ensuring
the Fire and Rescue Service’s primary role of
protecting people is not compromised, while every
practical step is taken to reduce environmental
damage.
The protocol covers: the environmental
impacts of pollution incidents, strategic planning,
flood risk management, information exchange and
advice. Additionally, it encourages the use and
sharing of specialist equipment such as high-volume
pumps used during flooding, and the development
of the Environment Agency’s scheme to supply Pollution
Equipment to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Emergency response equipment
has now been provided to all Fire and Rescue Services.
Two types of equipment are provided:
(1) A Grab Pack carried on the
front line fire, has:
a disposable clay drain sealing
mat,
ready mixed sealing putty (to promptly seal leaking
drums and containers),
oil absorbent pads,
10m polyboom (used to contain spill or contaminated
run-off),
plastic waste bags,
pop up pool (to collect liquid from leaking bulk
storage tank or decontamination run-off from fire-fighters
receiving wash-down).
(2) Specialist Equipment deployed on an incident
support vehicle, including:
overpack drums (come in various
sizes to contain leaking drums),
large self-erecting pools (100-250 litres),
flexi-tanks (6,000 litres),
100m polyboom,
inflatable pipe blockers (rubber pneumatic devices
to stop containment run-off into water),
water turbine pumps,
chemical absorbent pads,
river booms (used to contain spill or contaminated
run-off from spreading in water).
"Provision of this equipment will only be
effective if matched by an informed, tactical
response," added Mr. McGlashan.
"In this regard, the Environment
Agency is working with the Department of Communities
and Local Government to produce a Fire and Rescue
Manual on Environmental Protection. This will
be used when teaching new recruits and updating
the knowledge and training of experienced officers.
The manual should be ready in the Autumn."
Head Office Press Office
