UKRO Festival of Rescue lands in Essex for 2026

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) will host the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) Festival of Rescue 2026 at the University of Essex in September.

The event will take place on Friday 11 September and Saturday 12 September 2026 at the university’s Colchester Campus.  

The Festival of Rescue brings together fire and rescue services from across the UK to take part in realistic, timed scenarios focused on rescuing people from vehicles and providing emergency trauma care. Designed to reflect the pressures of real incidents, the event tests how crews operate, make decisions and deliver care in challenging conditions.

As host service, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service will take part alongside teams visiting across the country.

“We are proud to host the UKRO Festival of Rescue in Essex. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the professionalism of our crews and to work alongside colleagues from across the UK in a focused, operational environment.”

Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

The event will feature two national challenges:

• UKRO National Extrication Challenge – bringing together rescue teams to manage complex road traffic collision scenarios, demonstrating contemporary extrication techniques used to safely remove people from vehicles, teamwork and casualty-centred rescue.
• UKRO National Trauma Challenge – involving emergency responders and clinical teams in realistic trauma care scenarios, with a focus on teamwork, decision-making and improving outcomes for casualties.

“The Festival of Rescue plays an important role in raising standards across the fire and rescue sector. It provides a consistent framework for learning, assessment and collaboration, all of which contribute to improving performance at incidents.”

Dan Quin, Chair of UKRO 

In addition to the main competition, the event will include a Fire Cadets’ Challenge, supporting young people interested in the fire and rescue service.

For further details, including how to book a free ticket, click here.

UKRO is exhibiting at The Emergency Services Show 2026, taking place from 16-17 September at the NEC in Birmingham. You can find them on Stand CZ54. Registration is now open: sign up here.