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Fifteen firefighters from Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) will travel across Europe this month as part of a major UK-led convoy delivering decommissioned fire engines and thousands of pieces of emergency equipment to support Ukrainian crews on the frontline.
The group will drive five former NFRS appliances to Ukraine, loaded with essential tools including ladders, generators, hydraulic rescue equipment, light portable pumps and positive pressure ventilation fans. All vehicles and equipment will be donated as part of a national humanitarian initiative coordinated by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
“Being a firefighter can be testing and dangerous at the best of times, so the challenge of fighting fires in the Ukraine at the moment is almost unimaginable.
“Naturally we jumped at the opportunity to help, and it’s great that Norfolk has been proactive in offering our support. As firefighters, you’re only as good as the equipment at your disposal, so if this goes some way to helping our colleagues on the ground in Ukraine to do their jobs and to save lives, then the trip will have been worth it.”
Tom Diaper, NFRS Crew Manager and volunteer driver.
The Norfolk team will join a UK convoy made up of 30 fire appliances carrying over 15,000 items of lifesaving kit. These resources will help to replenish equipment destroyed in the war – since the invasion began, Ukraine has lost more than 1,700 fire vehicles, 411 fire stations and 100 firefighters have lost their lives.
Delta Fire, a UK manufacturer of firefighting equipment based in Norfolk, played a key role in preparing the donated kit, offering servicing support free of charge.
“It was an honour for the team at Delta Fire to be able to support such a vital cause. Servicing the donated equipment to ensure it is in top condition for the firefighters in Ukraine was a small but meaningful way for Delta Fire to contribute. Firefighters everywhere rely on the best available tools to save lives, and we are proud to help make that possible for our friends in Ukraine during such difficult times.”
Jordon King, Business Development Manager, Delta Fire.
This isn’t the first time NFRS has supported Ukraine. In 2022, its firefighters helped prepare housing for refugees arriving under the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Norfolk.
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