Twelve WYFRS colleagues formed part of the mission transporting 30 fire and rescue vehicles, carrying more than 15,000 pieces of equipment, which were donated by UK fire and rescue services and supported by HM Government.
The WYFRS contribution was of out-of-use fire engines which had been changed to the new clean cab system as part of the fleet upgrade in West Yorkshire last year. The vehicles donated to Ukraine were 15 years old - which is the age WYFRS replaces appliances at.
Ukrainian fire services continue to suffer heavy losses, with 411 firehouses destroyed, 1,700 fire vehicles lost, and 100 firefighters killed since the start of the full-scale invasion. The convoy underscores the ongoing commitment of UK fire services to stand in solidarity with their Ukrainian colleagues.
Assistant District Commander for Wakefield Dave Burland was among those from WYFRS making the trip. He said “It was hard work with some early starts and long days driving, but we kept our spirits up and enjoyed travelling through some beautiful countries.
“As firefighters we do consider ourselves to be a firefighting family, so being able to give a little back to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are operating under such terrible conditions felt like a really important thing to be a part of.”
English and Welsh fire and rescue services donated all the appliances and kit for the eighth convoy, which range from basic firefighting equipment such as hoses, PPE and road traffic collision equipment. About 100 volunteers, drawn from fire and rescue services and FIRE AID, participated in the convoy.
The Minister of State for Building Safety and Fire, Alex Norris said “The UK remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine. Firefighters are in the war zone, risking their lives to protect communities under the most challenging conditions. This convoy delivers essential equipment to help them carry out their life-saving work, and we will continue to stand with them for as long as it takes.”
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair, Phil Garrigan, said “We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine, as they continue to operate in extraordinarily difficult and dangerous conditions. This latest donation of fire engines and equipment will help replace some of what has been lost in the full-scale war, offering essential support to firefighters who are relentlessly striving to save lives and keep communities safe despite overwhelming challenges. We are deeply proud to contribute in a small but meaningful way to ensuring that our colleagues have the resources they need to carry out their vital work.”