Lincolnshire firefighters took part in the International Search and Rescue (ISAR) response to the earthquake in Haiti

10 Lincolnshire firefighters who took part in the International Search and Rescue (ISAR) response to the earthquake in Haiti, have returned safely. Joining emergency services from around the globe as part of the worldwide response to the quake, Lincolnshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Mike Thomas led the entire UK search and rescue response.

Following deployment, the UK-ISAR crews arrived in Haiti on 15 January and during the rescue operation saved at least 126 lives, and provided emergency transportation and medical assistance to hundreds of casualties.

In his role as Field Commander, Mike Thomas led 72 UK-ISAR personnel. The team also took specially trained rescue dogs, including Holly – Lincolnshire’s rescue dog.

Mike says that his "thanks go to the hard work of all of the team who have not only carried out vitally important work, but have showed that Lincolnshire firefighters are amongst the best in the world. The successes of the team are particularly outstanding against the backdrop of such testing circumstances and the challenges faced by the incident being in such a deprived area with such poor infrastructure, 

For five of the team, this was their first international incident. The team have reported that they were definitely more effective and better equipped this time than in previous incidents, and that it has reinforced the training, systems and personal development the service has. The training facilities they have developed at their base in Waddington are recognised as some of the best in the country and it is clear that our firefighters are too".

The team from Lincolnshire brought back some pictures from Haiti and these can be found in the photo gallery here.