Firefighters join national convoy to help communities in Ukraine

Three of our firefighters are helping to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian fire and rescue services this week by delivering specialist equipment.

Watch Manager Anthony Doolan, along with firefighters Craig Elson and Gareth Salisbury, will be taking the trip as part of the biggest national convoy to date organised by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and FIRE AID.

We, along with 14 other fire and rescue services across the UK, will be donating what we can to help those most in need, including our old Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP).

The ALP is a specialist appliance which can be used to put water onto buildings from above, to assist in rescues from tall buildings or as an observation platform.

After the introduction of our new state-of-the-art ALPs at stations in Longton and Burton, we’re now able to donate one of the former vehicles as part of the humanitarian response to Ukraine.

More than 80 fire vehicles have already been donated to Ukraine from fire and rescue services across the UK.

In this next convoy, a further 30 fire and rescue vehicles will be sent to Ukraine.

Speaking ahead of the journey to Ukraine, Craig said: “All three of us are incredibly proud and humbled to support and provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.

“We want to play our part in supporting our Ukrainian fire and rescue colleagues and to do all we can to make a difference.”

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Glynn Luznyj said: “We’re proud to be working alongside our UK fire and rescue service colleagues, Fire Aid and the NFCC to provide vital support to our colleagues in Ukraine.

“I would also like to thank all three of our volunteers as well as Station Managers Ben Woodward and Dez Stoddart for making this happen.

“I’m delighted we’re able to donate the ALP – it’s a really positive move and I hope it will help the people of Ukraine.”

Visit our website to find out more about our new ALP vehicles: State-of-the-art fire vehicles hit the roads (staffordshirefire.gov.uk)

Image: From left to right Deputy Chief Fire Officer Glynn Luznyj, Craig Elson, Gareth Salisbury, Watch Manager Anthony Doolan and Station Manager Ben Woodward.