Animal Rescue

Firefighters will rescue animals when they are trapped or where the people may be in danger.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Animal Rescue Unit was set up in 2010 under the National Best Practice guidance of the Animal Rescue Practitioners Forum.

It is based at Caversham Road Fire Station and merged with RBFRS’  Water Rescue Unit in May 2014.

The team’s members are specialists in rescue techniques and maintain a large focus on the understanding of animal behaviour. Horses, cows and birds of prey are some of the creatures firefighters have saved in recent months.

The rescue of larger animals will sometimes require support from the Heavy Rescue Unit, however, the team prefer to avoid mechanical lifting whenever possible.