A convoy of donated fire engines and thousands of pieces of equipment will today depart the UK bound for Ukraine. Charity FIRE AID and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) sent an initial delivery to the war-torn country on March 11.A second convoy, consisting of 22 vehicles and two lorries of equipment donated by fire services across the UK, will depart on Saturday. The BBC reports it will leave from Kent.
Organisers hope the retired fire engines will help tackle blazes on the front line of the war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for immediate peace talks as Russia's bombardment of its eastern European neighbour shows no sign of relenting. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "We are helping to ensure that crucial fire and rescue equipment and PPE donated by Fire and Rescue Services will get to where it can directly provide succour to those brave firefighters, emergency services and volunteers on the front line in Ukraine."
FIRE AID project manager Claire Hoyland said the charity's members immediately mobilised in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She said: "FIRE AID members have been working in partnership with the Ukrainian emergency services since 2012 and we are proud to be coordinating this unprecedented emergency response on behalf of the UK Fire Sector."
