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1. Home
2. Incidents
3. Rescues

Rescues

Rescue is the safe removal of persons or domestic animals from actual or threatened danger of physical harm.

Most rescue incidents involve more than one emergency service. It is not unusual for the NSW Fire Brigades to work with the Police, Ambulance NSW, the Rural Fire Service, the NSW State Emergency Service and Volunteer Rescue Association at a rescue incident.

The provision of rescue services is controlled and coordinated by the State Rescue Board under the provisions of the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989.

Case studies showing some of the rescue incidents we assist in are described below.

• Motor vehicle accidents

  • 3 March 2004 - Bus crash at Smithfield
  • 15 December 2003 - Car crash at Fairlight

• Collapse of buildings and other infrastructure

  • 20 March 2006 - Liverpool trench rescue
  • 02 November 2005 - Structural collapse at Lane Cove
  • 31 January 2003 - Waterfall train derailment
  • October 2002 - Lake Cargelligo water tower collapse

• Aeroplane accidents

  • 5 May 2002 - Mid-air collision, Revesby

• Events - Harbour Challenge 2009 - Australasian Road Rescue Challenge

  • 9 - 12 July 2009 Technology Park Sydney
    This year's Australasian Road Rescue Challenge will be hosted by the New South Wales Fire Brigades with assistance from the New South Wales State Emergency Service at historic Australian Technology Park in Redfern, only minutes from Sydney's CBD.
    
    Events from this years challenge will be streamed live so your agency, friends and loved ones can watch and support your team.
    
    For further information visit: http://www.harbourchallenge.com.au
    

• Animal rescue

  Each year the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) carries out hundreds of animal rescues. The Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) relies heavily on the NSWFB and other emergency services to rescue animals from chimneys, stormwater drains, swamps, trees and inside walls. Our specialised rescue equipment such as wall cutters, aerial platforms and extra-long extension ladders, combined with our horse-lifting slings, reptile-handling kits, and thermal imaging and search cameras, assists greatly in animal rescues.