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 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. The Festival provides a national benchmark for performance, training and professional standards, while giving services the opportunity to observe different approaches and strengthen capability.

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

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

“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.”

Dan Quin, Chair of UKRO, said: 

“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.”

(Picture: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)