LISTEN: "It's a small service but it's got the risks of a large urban city"

Friday 13 September 2024

Flooding, tall buildings, sea and cliff rescues and more are on the agenda for the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Bryn Coleman, who joined Jersey Fire and Rescue last month.

Bryn sat down with Express to talk about his experience in Nottinghamshire, advising governments on flood rescue, and the variety of skills represented in Jersey.

Bryn brings nearly three decades of experience from the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to his new role in Jersey. Though a move to Jersey could seem like a change of pace, he said, the much smaller service "has also got all the risks of a large urban city in the UK" - with an airport, a prison, a hospital and a port.

33 buildings are classified as being "high-rise", he added.

Moving from Nottingham to an island presented some unique challenges: Jersey, with limited resources and geographical constraints, requires innovative approaches to fire and rescue operations. Despite these challenges, Bryn said, procedures are similar and adapted from UK best practices.

With previously no dedicated flood rescue specialists in Jersey, Bryn said he aimed to bring this experience to the island.

"The amount of damage and distress that flooding causes individuals, not just immediately as we rescue them, but for a year or 18 months after while they are being rehomed, is immense," he explained.

Listen below or via your preferred podcast provider...