Picture special: ‘Firefighter Olympics’ in Custom House
Rope Rescue team.
Melissa York, Reporter
Thursday, October 25, 2012
12:00 PM
Fire crews from around the world competed against each other in Custom House at the weekend in the first ever ‘firefighter Olympics’.
Teams from as far apart as Ireland and New Zealand went hose-to-hose in the World Rescue Challenge at ExCeL London.
The free, family event pitted ultra fit firefighters against each other in a number of disciplines designed to show off what other skills crews excel at when are they not extinguishing fires.
Both days featured rope challenges with firefighters rescuing people from cranes; extrication challenges with actors pulled out of crashed cars made to look like they have been involved in a serious accident with make up and prosthetics; urban search and rescue demonstrations with firefighters rescuing people from rubble; and a spectacular parachutist crash landing in the Docks with rescue teams on speedboats.
This year’s World Rescue Challenge featured a number of firsts such as rapping firefighters performing for the crowds, penalty shoot outs with community staff at West Ham United, a cook off between stations - with a helping hand from the catering students at Newham College - and a number of sweltering demonstrations to see what happens when you throw water over a deep fat fryer.
Families also met the canine stars of many crews, the special fire dogs, who are often used in investigations to discover the causes of blazes, and they also got the chance to walk around Community Safety World, a life-sized house where children can learn fire prevention tips.
Most Read News
‘Boris is all about Boris’, says London Mayoral hopeful Eddie Izzard
The comedian Eddie Izzard has hit out at London Mayor Boris Johnson whilst maintaining he is ready for the challenge of pursuing politics himself.
Local advertisers
More news
- Newham Baby Blog: “It’s only 10 weeks until D-Day”
- Big Debate: What can age contribute to the workplace?
- Witnesses needed of Canning Town accident that left biker in “critical condition”
- Fifth suspect bailed over death of Champion Ganda in Forest Gate
- Manor Park landlord fined £12,000 for failing to license flats
- Custom House pupils get stuck in to ‘Tuck In’ project
- Head to Newham hospital if you want to know about clinical trials
- More than 4,500 jobs to be created at Press and Broadcast Centres at Olympic Park
- Rare West Ham book to be auctioned off for charity
- Trendy pub company takes over Railway Tavern by Forest Gate high street
- Newham gang operation leads to 13 arrests in dawn raids
- Custom House woman to stand trial over acid attack
- Two Newham projects, including Cody Docks in Canning Town and church in Plaistow awarded £79,990
- MP urges East Ham schools to teach ‘vital’ money management
- Betting shop rep to attend residents’ meeting in Forest Gate
- ‘Prolific offender’ of Custom House wanted by police
- Fiona wins national award for getting Newham’s youth into sport
- Nine-year-old boy to navigate own boat on River Lea to raise money for bridge at Cody Docks
- Leyton Orient renew bid for Olympic Stadium review
- Newham council officer benefited from a £300,000 payout, says report
-
Use our Wedding site to help you plan your big day! - At WeddingSite we know how much you have to organise for your wedding day, that's why we have designed a set of FREE, simple-to-use tools to make the planning process easy & hassle-free. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a date using our online dating and friend finder - You can meet new friends, find romance or simply meet up online with people sharing similar interests and hobbies. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a local business using our online directory search - Need a plumber? Or a florist? Or anything else? Search our business directory to find Newham businesses in just a few seconds. FIND OUT MORE
-
Family notices from the Newham Recorder, with readers' tributes - In memoriam, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, best wishes & special days. FIND OUT MORE
Celebrity / Showbiz See all
Kate Winslet hosts fundraiser for homeless charity
A-lister Kate Winslet ramped up the glitz and glam to address the “heartbreaking” situation of youngsters living rough.
- Move over, Leo! There’s a new Gatsby in town
- Young Sherlock Holmes author Andrew Lane to present Lost Worlds
- Film review: The Great Gatsby
- Camden Council gives go-ahead for life-size statue of Amy Winehouse
- ‘Boris is all about Boris’, says London Mayoral hopeful Eddie Izzard
0 comments