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  UK-ISAR - Who we are
  The UK International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR) has components supplied by 13 UK Fire and Rescue Services. Each service undertakes to provide a 6-person team of search and rescue specialists. The team work a rota system ensuring that at least 36 search and rescue specialists are available at any one time for overseas deployment.

Specific groups also provide command, logistical and medical support in order to ensure that the team is self-sufficient and meets all the requirements of the INSARAG system.
UKFSSART Star
  Operational Structure
  In order to meet the requirements of the INSARAG Heavy Team classification, the UK-ISAR Team is composed of five operational functions. These are:
INSARAG Classification
Command
Search
Rescue
Medical
Logistics
  Administrative Structure
  The ultimate authority for UK-ISAR is provided by the Chief Fire Officers of the 13 FRS that support the organisation and provide resources for both operational and administrative purposes. The CFOs are represented within the overall UK USAR structure by the UK-ISAR National Lead at the USAR National Working Group (NWG). Currently, this post is held by Chief Fire Officer Mike Thomas of Lincolnshire FRS. The NWG is chaired by ACO Bill Evans of the Merseyside FRS and the group, including the UK-ISAR Representative decide policy and strategy issues.
 
rubble search by UKFSSART personnel
 The day-to-day management of UK-ISAR is undertaken by the UK-ISAR National Coordinator, currently Peter Crook from Hampshire FRS. The National Coordinator works with the 13 FRS Coordinators through a Coordinators Group at which all participating services are represented. In addition, the UK-ISAR National Coordinator represents UK-ISAR at the USAR National User Group (NUG). The NUG deal with tactical and operational issues.

The main role of the Coordinators Group is to translate policy decisions into practical applications. It does this by delegating specific tasks to individuals or to ad-hoc working groups. To make this Coordinators Group most effective, the Coordinators have appointed a small representative group, the Management Group to work closely with the UK-ISAR National Coordinator and to develop ideas, procedures and policies that are then presented to both the NWG Representative and to the other FRS Coordinators.
 
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