Life-saving kit which was to be no longer used by firefighters across Hampshire and Isle of Wight has been donated to help save lives in Ukraine.
Co-ordinated by FireAID, the eighth convoy of kit from fire services across the UK will help Ukrainian firefighters and replace damaged equipment lost during the ongoing war.
The largest UK fire and rescue service convoy is set to deliver more than 15,000 pieces of life saving firefighting equipment to Ukrainian firefighters.
The equipment donated from HIWFRS includes tools, generators, pumps, helmets, branches as well as lighting, water pumping, rescue and stabilisation equipment.
Departing in April, the 26 donated fire engines, adding to the 119 vehicles and 200,000 pieces of equipment already supplied since the invasion began, will make its way across Europe thanks to around 100 volunteers from FRSs and FireAID.
FireAid is an alliance of organisations and services with a mutual interest in providing ethical and sustainable donations of fire and rescue aid and training to countries facing the greatest challenges.
English and Welsh FRSs have donated all the appliances and kit for the convoy, which ranges from basic firefighting equipment such as hoses, PPE and road traffic collision equipment.
The fire and rescue services participating in the convoy are:
- Buckinghamshire
- Cheshire
- Durham & Darlington
- Essex
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- Hereford and Worcester
- Humberside
- Lancashire
- London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- Northumberland
- South Wales
- Staffordshire
- Tyne & Wear
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on Ukrainian firefighters. Latest figures (correct as of 17 February) from the State Emergency Services of Ukraine show that since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, 100 firefighters have been killed and a further 431 injured, whilst four are currently in captivity and one is missing. Meanwhile, 411 firehouses and 1,700 fire vehicles have been destroyed, and 95 firehouses are now in occupied territories. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian firefighters continue to operate in the war zone – not to engage in combat, but to save lives and protect property, often at great personal risk.
In response, UK fire and rescue services (FRSs), in partnership with the UK Government, National Resilience, UK International Search and Rescue, FIRE AID, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and the Fire Industry Association (FIA), have come together to support their Ukrainian counterparts.
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Vice-Chair and Chair-Elect, Phil Garrigan, said:
“The entire UK fire and rescue community stands with our colleagues in Ukraine, as they continue to put their lives on the line in the most challenging and dangerous conditions.
“This latest donation of fire engines and equipment will go some way to replace that lost to the full-scale war, providing critical support to firefighters who are working tirelessly to save lives and protect communities despite immense adversity. We are incredibly proud to play a small but crucial role in ensuring that our colleagues have the resources they need to continue their vital work.”
First Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Vitalii Myroniuk, said:
“The people and Government of the United Kingdom were among the first to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine at a time when the whole world was uncertain whether we would endure the onslaught. Your support in the critical early days of Russia’s invasion allowed us to replace outdated equipment with modern British technology, enabling us to carry out our life-saving missions more quickly and effectively in wartime conditions. We are immensely grateful for your solidarity and for understanding the challenges we face and the conditions in which we operate.
“Every Ukrainian rescuer works tirelessly to safeguard our statehood and our nation. And we are able to endure thanks to our British friends, who share our common values of freedom and the rule of law.”