Roger Mardon fire service history

Fire service historian and author

Roger Mardon

www.romar.org.uk

New Dimension

Incident response units

Prime movers

High volume pumping units

Urban search & rescue units

Disrobe and re-robe modules

DIM units

Enhanced command support vehicles

Equipment provided for each team includes an infrared spectroscope, radiation survey meters, gas detectors and instruments for chemical vapour and isotope identification. Communication systems, satellite telephones and data transfer equipment are also carried. Gas-tight suits and breathing apparatus, together with a decontamination structure slightly smaller than the MD4 carried on incident response units, are provided for the crew. The DIM team will be able to detect and analyse a range of chemicals found in different states - gases and vapours, solids including powders, liquids, radiological materials and biological hazards. The concentration of gases in the air can be assessed and operational and environmental hazards can be monitored.

The information obtained by the DIM team from the hazard area is used to confirm

the level of protection required for emergency crews working in hot zone areas
exposure levels and durations
first-aid measures
inner cordon locations
requirements for post-incident casualty treatment
procedures for responding agencies and the public

Twenty units are known to have been built by AES, including one supplied to Northern Ireland (not as part of the New Dimension programme) and a spare. Delivery was completed in 2007 and DIM teams have been located as shown in the following table.

Region	Fire & Rescue Service	DIM Units
London	London		2
South East	Hampshire	Trial DIM	1
	Kent		1
	Oxfordshire		1
	Surrey	Trial DIM	1
South West	Avon		1
East of England			0
East Midlands	Leicestershire	Trial DIM	1
West Midlands	Staffordshire		1
West Midlands	West Midlands	Trial DIM	1
Yorkshire & Humber	Humberside		1
	South Yorkshire		1
	West Yorkshire	Trial DIM	1
North East	Cleveland		1
North East	Tyne & Wear		1
North West	Greater Manchester	Trial DIM	1
North West	Merseyside		1
Wales	South Wales	Trial DIM	1
Spare			1
	Northern Ireland		1

If a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident occurs, it is essential that the risks to the public and rescue personnel can be quickly identified. Seven trial detection, identification and monitoring (DIM) units were located in the South East (2), West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, North West, and Wales. These were used in the London bombings on 7 July 2005 to ensure that there was no contamination present. Brigades with these trial units used their own transport.

As part of the New Dimension mass decontamination facilities, a total of eighteen DIM units have been located on a regional basis in England and Wales and the trial units have been replaced by the final capability teams.

The DIM vehicles are white Iveco Daily 50C17 extra high roof vans supplied and fitted out by AES.