Firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been crowned Best Breathing Apparatus (BA) Team and awarded the prestigious title of Overall Best Team at the National Breathing Apparatus Challenge (NBAC).

The competition, held over the weekend of October 12 at the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, brought together 19 fire and rescue services from across the UK. The five-person team from Mid and West Wales - Dominic Norcross (Officer in Charge), Lee Rees (Driver / Fireground Setup), Luke Fisher and Tim Frost (BA Team), and Morgan Lewis (BA Entry Control Officer) - faced a realistic, high-pressure property fire scenario, with just 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze and rescue any casualties.

Teams were judged by National Assessors on incident command, fireground procedures, entry control, and BA wearing and procedures. The Mid and West Wales fire team excelled across all areas, demonstrating exceptional operational skill, technical knowledge, and teamwork.

Group Manager Stuart Bate, Head of Training Delivery, said: “This achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism, and rigorous training of our firefighters. To be recognised as the best among such strong competition is a testament to the high standards we uphold in Mid and West Wales.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the team’s success,” he said.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service covers the unitary authority areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, the City and County of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, and Powys

Sponsored by Draeger UK and supported by the Fire Fighters Charity, the NBAC is a nationally recognised event aimed at promoting excellence in BA procedures and incident command. It provides a vital platform for sharing best practice, enhancing firefighter safety, and fostering collaboration across fire services in the UK.

For more information about the National Breathing Apparatus Challenge, visit: www.nbac.co.uk