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The largest convoy from UK fire and rescue services to date will next week deliver essential firefighting equipment to Ukrainian fire and rescue services.
The scale of this convoy is unprecedented, comprising 30 fire and rescue vehicles, two mechanics vehicles, and an HGV carrying over 2,800 items of surplus equipment. Among the 30 fire and rescue vehicles are 20 fire engines, eight incident command units, one arial ladder platform, and one 4×4 vehicle.
The Home Office, working in partnership with NFCC National Resilience, English and Welsh fire and rescue services (FRSs), FIRE AID and the Fire Industry Association, has sponsored the delivery of the equipment. It adds to the 89 surplus fire and rescue vehicles and over 190,000 items of equipment to Ukraine via six previous road convoys and a rail shipment since the war began in 2022.
“We have witnessed the sheer strength and resilience of Ukrainian firefighters since the day the war began. With the war continuing and the task before them increasingly challenging, the UK and international firefighter community will continue to provide support however we can.
“The efforts to bring this equipment together, and get it to where it’s needed most, demonstrates the very best of UK fire and rescue services.”
Mark Hardingham, National Fire Chiefs Council Chair.
English and Welsh FRSs have donated all the appliances, kit and equipment, amongst which are ladders, breathing apparatus sets, boats, fire and water PPE and safe working at height kit. 100 volunteers, drawn from FRSs and FIRE AID, will participate in the convoy.
Ukrainian fire and rescue services have been decimated by the impact of the war and the demands placed upon them have skyrocketed. To date, 396 firehouses have been destroyed, with 92 more now in occupied territory. 1,676 fire vehicles have been destroyed. 91 firefighters have been killed, with a further 349 injured, and five are held in captivity.
Meanwhile, the work of Ukrainian firefighters has grown significantly since the start of the war, with approximately 217,000 buildings destroyed or damaged, 18,270 fires eliminated and 4,975 people rescued.
“We are now in the third year of this senseless conflict and today’s donation shows our determination to support the people of Ukraine remains as strong as ever. Every western country must do everything they possibly can – big and small – to help Ukraine defeat Russia’s invasion. We cannot allow aggression to win.
“I am immensely proud of this contribution and want to extend my gratitude to colleagues within the UK fire and rescue services who have donated equipment and will ensure the convoy’s safe passage.”
Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire.
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