Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) relates to the threat and the preparedness of the emergency services to be able to deal with an incident at local, regional and national levels. Communities and Local Government (CLG) has led a team consisting of members from all fire and rescue services and has provided specific equipment and training to enable a degree of resilience not previously available.

Work has been undertaken under the following work streams:

• Mass Decontamination,
• Urban Search and Rescue
• Water (High Volume Pumping and Rescue)
• Command and Control
• Operational Logistics
• Long Term Capability Management. 

The resulting roll out of equipment and training has already proved to be extremely beneficial with the county of Cumbria benefiting from High Volume Pumps during the Cumbrian storms that resulted in the Carlisle floods. The building collapse in Glasgow and the largest fire in peacetime Europe at Buncefield, Hemel Hempstead also benefited from the expertise and equipment that have been funded by CLG as well as dozens of lesser incidents.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service have equipment and expertise within the county as a direct result of this work which has enhanced the existing fire and rescue capability.