I work as a firefighter and rope access, rescue and climbing instructor across a wide variety of rope work disciplines. My Fellowship seeks to bring to UK FRS (UK Fire and Rescue Services) a rope rescue tactic that has saved lives abroad.

There are an increasing number of tall building fires in the UK and worldwide that have cut off occupants' only route of escape, their windows inaccessible to even the largest firefighting mechanical ladders. Some of these occupants have chosen to take their chances on the outside of their buildings and have fallen to their deaths. As a life-long rope technician, abseiling out of a window is a standard day at the office, but doing so to rescue a casualty impinged by fire from their window is something no UK FRS is equipped or trained to do. Departments abroad such as FDNY (Fire Department of New York) do, and they have been doing so a lot more frequently partially due to lithium battery fires in hallways.

I hope to learn about and then modify this invaluable tactic so that it can meet the requirements of UK FRS and health and safety concerns. Casualties who would otherwise be left at their windows trapped by smoke or fire can then be saved.