Surrey's firefighters are trained to deal with a range of emergency situations, not just fires.

With an even greater emphasis on prevention and protection, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service hopes to work with partners and other organisations to reduce the risk of a variety of emergencies occurring in the first place. However, when an accident takes place that requires specialist attention, we are ready to act.

Flooding
Gas Pipelines
Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Radiation
Building regulations

Flooding

Surrey's firefighters are practised and prepared in responding to flooding incidents. During widespread flooding events, this is restricted to incidents where life is at risk from flooding.

The Service also has specialist equipment, vehicles and a dedicated Swift Water Rescue team to help deal with flooding. Working alongside other agencies including the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council, the Swift Water Rescue team typically check on properties affected by flooding and play a vital role in assisting members of the public at risk from flood water.

As well as responding to incidents in Surrey, firefighters from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service can be called upon to assist other fire and rescue crews with national flood emergency responses. This includes using our high volume pumping equipment.

Advice on dealing with flooding can be found on the Environment Agency's website.

Flooding also affects businesses. For flooding advice and information for your business, visit Business Link.

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Gas Pipelines

There are a number of pipelines running through Surrey providing us with vital services. Working with other agencies we have a number of standard procedures to investigate reports of any accidents or emergencies and we are able to respond accordingly.

Should you discover a gas leak please call your local gas emergency number or if any doubt dial 999.

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Transportation of Hazardous Materials

Given the nature of the transport infrastructure across Surrey at any one point in time there are a number of vehicles containing various materials travelling through the county. As part of our ability to respond to any incident, we have a number of personnel specifically trained to deal with emergencies that may involve hazardous materials.

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Radiation

Radioactive materials that are stored, used and transported within the county are the subject of stringent legislative controls. As part of our ability to respond to any incident we have plans that cover known sources and any sources in transit. We have a number of specifically trained personnel who support our intervention at this type of incident.

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Building regulations

The construction of domestic, commercial and industrial buildings in Surrey are bound by legal requirements, these include fire safety requirements. These are:

• Safe means of escape from the building.
• Stability of a building to be maintained in a fire, both internally and externally
• Internally - The wall lining i.e. plaster, plasterboard or wooden boards on the walls and ceiling will resist the spread of flames and give off reasonable levels of heat, if on fire
• Internal stability will be maintained during fire and fire spread will be prohibited
• Fire and smoke will be prohibited from spreading to concealed spaces in a buildings structure
• Externally - The external walls and roof will resist spread of fire to walls and roofs of other buildings
• The building will be easily accessible for firefighters and their equipment

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is not the controlling body to be contacted for any enquires concerning the building regulation. In the first instance please contact your local borough building control officer.