Back in June, we updated you on the progress of our trainee operational team members after their first three months with the team. We are delighted to share that all twelve trainees have now successfully passed their six-month assessment.
Over two days, the trainees completed a range of challenges, including casualty rescue scenarios and a basic life support assessment, demonstrating the skills and commitment they have developed during their training.

As recognition of their hard work and dedication, our friends at Grub's boots have kindly presented each trainee with a pair of Frostline wellingtons. This follows a recent donation that has seen all operational team members receive boots, walking shoes, or wellies from Grubs. Thank you for your continued support.

Alongside their assessments, our trainees have remained active members of the team, attending fundraising events, maintenance days, and lectures. They also recently joined a training session with National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) and three search dog handlers from Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team, where they learned about the role of search dogs and watched Molly, Holly, and Ralph successfully locate exercise casualties.

Their next milestone will be their nine-month review meetings as they continue working towards becoming operational team members. We are incredibly proud of their progress so far and wish them every success as they continue their training journey.

Please note that we will not be recruiting for the operational team until the current trainee group has transitioned into the operational team, which is expected to be no earlier than mid-2027. Any future recruitment will be advertised on our social media channels.

Thank you for your continued support, Grubs. ... See MoreSee Less

Three incidents, three locations, and three casualties requiring assistance from Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

The first incident, at 12:36 on Friday, was near a fishing lodge in Hindley, where North West Ambulance Service requested our assistance with moving a male casualty who had an extremely painful leg injury. The casualty was stretchered to the waiting ambulance, and then he was taken to hospital for further treatment.

As we were about to return to base, at 13:51, a second callout came through. This was in Wilderswood, near Rivington, where a female casualty was feeling dizzy and experiencing shortness of breath. We assisted the paramedics at the scene before stretchering the casualty to a waiting ambulance. This included a particularly difficult traverse over a wall.

The third incident, at 10:28 on Saturday, was in Tockholes, where a female casualty was experiencing dizzy spells and difficulty breathing. We were first on scene, closely followed by an NWAS ambulance crew. We were able to drive one of our team Land Rovers directly to the casualty and transport her to the waiting ambulance in the back seat of the vehicle.

Thanks to North West Ambulance Service and everyone involved in the three incidents for working with us to get the casualties the care they needed. We would like to wish all three casualties a speedy recovery.

Remember, we are an organisation staffed by volunteers and funded wholly through donations. If you would like to donate, please click the button on this post, or visit the link in our bio. ... See MoreSee Less

On Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August, Bolton Central Fire Station held their annual Open Day. We were delighted to be invited to attend once again – we have been doing so for many years. The firefighters put on a great family show with displays of firefighting equipment, vehicles (who can resist a shiny red fire engine?), and stalls. They also did several startling and memorable demonstrations of what happens when water is poured onto a pan of hot oil such as a chip pan.

12 members of Bolton MRT were in attendance along with our emergency vehicles BM1 (a Land Rover Defender) and BM4 (a SsangYong Musso 4x4 pickup). Visitors were able to talk to team members about our work, see demonstrations of CPR, and try this vital life-saving skill for themselves. There were also displays of photographs of the team in action, and items of merchandise for sale. The highlight of our contribution to the day’s festivities was a demonstration by members of our Technical Rope Rescue team of the rescue of a person stuck on a vertical cliff face a long way above the ground. The cliff face was the fire service’s training tower, of course, but the techniques used were the same as would be used on a cliff rescue, or very steep ground rescue.

As an illustration of how closely we work with all the emergency services, including the Fire and Rescue Service, the techniques and equipment we used for the demonstration are broadly the same as used by the fire service themselves, so that we can work together on real incidents.

We express our sincere thanks to Bolton Central Fire Station staff for inviting us, and to all the adults and children who visited our displays. ... See MoreSee Less