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Press Releases

Press Conference Welcomes Home Firefighters from Haiti Earthquake Rescue Mission

Friday, 22 January 2010

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be holding a press conference on Wednesday 27th January 2010, at 10am, Carmarthen to welcome home the seven firefighters that volunteered to play their part in the UK International Search and Rescue (ISAR) effort in Haiti. The crew along with rescue teams from across the globe scoured debris for those trapped underneath, made safe damaged buildings and erected temporary structures to provide badly-needed shelter.

At the press conference members of the press and media will have the opportunity to put questions to the rescue team and senior Officers involved, hear a presentation and see unseen footage of the rescue efforts and interview those present by prior arrangement through our Press Office.

To register your interest in attending please telephone Elisabeth Evans on (01267) 226865 who will take your details, reserve you a seat and issue you with a press kit.

Anyone interested in recording a live interview with those present will need to arrange this through our Press Office so you can be added to the interview list and for a space to be reserved for you in one of our specially located interview rooms. We cannot guarantee interviews for those who do not book one in advance.

Note to Editor:

1. An earthquake measuring 7.2 struck the Caribbean island of Haiti at around 5pm local time (10pm GMT) on Tuesday, January 12th. A request for mobilisation of the UK team came from the Department for International Development (DFID) shortly afterwards. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service deployed seven Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel to assist in the rescue mission.

2. The UK team is made up personnel from Greater Manchester, West Sussex, Kent, West Midlands, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire as well as Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services. Team members are specially trained volunteers with specialist rescue equipment who respond on behalf of Government to requests for assistance following oversea disasters.

3. DFID is the part of the UK government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. We are led by a cabinet minister, one of the senior ministers in the government. This in itself is a sign of how determined is the UK government to tackle poverty around the world. www.dfid.gov.uk

  1. The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service serves the following six constituent authority areas - Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Swansea, Powys and Neath Port Talbot.
  2. The Service covers some 4,500 square miles and makes-up almost two thirds of the landmass of Wales.
  3. A wide variety of risks are found within the operational area ranging from the petro-chemical industries in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and Briton Ferry, Neath, to the risks associated with heavily populated areas such as Swansea, Port Talbot and Llanelli.
  4. There is an extensive farming community and many other light industries throughout the area.
  5. These, together with an extensive coastline and inland waterways are some of the specialised risks within the Mid and West Wales region.

Added By Paul Thomas on 22/01/2010

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