Bedfordshire FRS supports efforts to provide firefighting equipment to Ukraine

Monday 29 April, 2024

 Firefighting equipment, donated by Bedford Fire and Rescue (BFRS), is winging its way to Ukraine as part of a massive convoy of equipment donated from across the UK.

BFRS donated 20 SCBA sets, and 25 cylinders previously used by the service across Bedfordshire. The equipment from Bedfordshire joins fire engines, hoses, ladders and thermal imaging cameras donated by fire and rescue services across the country.

Thirty-three fire and rescue vehicles, carrying more than 2,800 pieces of equipment departed from Kent on Tuesday 23 April.

Station Commander, Simon Daniels, has coordinated this latest BFRS contribution. He said: “This has been collective effort across BFRS to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Everyone involved should be proud of their efforts.

“Our thoughts remain with everyone whose lives have been devastated by the ongoing conflict.

 “The donations, which are all surplus to requirements, will allow firefighters in Ukraine to provide vital emergency response when people need it most. We very much hope to be able to support future convoys.”

 Since the escalation in 2022 of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, colleagues from UK fire and rescue services (FRSs), FIRE AID, the National Fire Chiefs Council, UK International Search and Rescue, the Home Office and the Fire Industry Association have come together to help Ukrainian colleagues.

 Nearly 90 vehicles and more than 190,000 items of fire and rescue equipment have been donated to date.