Three Cumbrian firefighters have safely delivered a fire engine from the county to help counterparts in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
Dan Shepherd, Sean Hevey and Peter Stephenson, of Kendal Fire Station, have been travelling with a large convoy of fire engines – donated by fire services across the country – after volunteering to make the trip to Poland from Cumbria.
Last night, they made it to their destination, close to the Ukrainian border, where Polish fire and rescue service personnel will transport them to firefighters in Ukraine.
A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our fire engine is among over 20 vehicles that will help Ukraine firefighters continue to protect their communities.”
The national initiative is a collaboration between the Home Office and the National Fire Chiefs Council, who put their call out to all fire services to do their bit to help colleagues in Ukraine.
Having just invested in six new fire engines, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service had one which they were planning to decommission. Realising that the vehicle could be put to better use in the hands of Ukrainians, they set about re-equipping the engine for re-use.
John Beard, chief fire officer of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We know that this donation of equipment and vehicles is very much needed so we are proud to be able to offer our support. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian Firefighters who are protecting their communities in the most difficult of circumstances.”
The equipment will support Ukrainian firefighters who are protecting their communities and hopefully will help to keep them safe while they are doing an unimaginably difficult job.”
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