Search and Rescue (USAR)
DSB has been a Norwegian project partner (donor project partner) in a predefined project in Romania on strengthened disaster preparedness, under the programme area Disaster Prevention and Preparedness. The project promoter is the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU).
The aim of the project was to strengthen Romania's preparedness in handling rescue in collapsed structures by strengthening USAR training of local fire and rescue personnel.
During the project period, a training center was built for training in search and rescue and removal of explosives/war remnants. The centre was built at the current National Training Centre for Crisis Management in Ciolpani (north of Bucharest), and its main task is to train and specialise IGSU personnel.
From the Norwegian side, DSB has assisted with the training of training personnel in search and rescue, and in the development of a practical and theoretical training programme.
The search and rescue training programme is based on recommendations from INSARAG's (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) First Responder Training Programme. The training program has been put into use at the new fitness center.
From the Norwegian side, a resource group was established with experts from the fire and rescue services in Oslo, Bergen, Nedre Romerike and Trondheim. In addition, a representative from the Fire and Rescue School participated. The project manager was Terje Skavdal (DSB's hired consultant). For DSB, it has been important that the project has provided mutual benefit for Norwegian and Romanian emergency preparedness and shown opportunities to further develop and strengthen an environment of expertise in search and rescue in Norway.
In the autumn of 2024, 16 firefighters from the four fire and rescue services participated together with Romanian emergency personnel in a two-week USAR course at the training center. This provided valuable and useful expertise to the Norwegian participants. In the winter of 2025, eight incident commanders from the same fire and rescue services will participate in a USAR leadership course. This course series is funded through bilateral funds under the Romania Domestic Programme. The course series ends in March 2025.