Fire equipment from Hinkley Point B could soon be saving lives
By 2024 the use-by date on the protective gear expired, so it was offered to an international charity doing vital work abroad
Firefighting equipment, which has been donated to an international charity doing vital work overseas, could soon be used to help save lives.
It comes as, by 2024, the use-by date on the protective gear used at the Hinkley Point B power station expired, and although it no longer met stringent British safety standards it was offered to other locations around the world who need it.
David Kay, OBE, Director and Chairman of International Fire and Rescue Association (IFRA), said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive and accept this valuable contribution from Hinkley Point B and EDF.
“Even though this equipment can’t be used in the UK anymore because of the UK regulations, it’s still of a high-quality and in very good condition, and will be gratefully received by firefighting colleagues around the world.”
The gear includes 160 sets of emergency Personal Protective Equipment, consisting of helmets, tunics, trousers and boots, and also included a number of stretchers.
The IFRA is a UK based charity set up in 2002 to help firefighters and emergency services worldwide, especially in countries that impacted by war, civil unrest or natural disaster.
The organisation will likely spread the Hinkley Point B donations across countries all over the world, including in Albania, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay.
Nicola Fauvel, Hinkley Point B’s Station Director, said: “Nothing is more important than the ability to be able to save human life. Our hope is that this equipment, which IRFA has the skills to repurpose, can be reallocated and reused so that equipment we can no longer utilise, can still fulfil the function it was created for.
“Knowing there’s Hinkley Point B kit out there around the world helping those in need is a lovely feeling.”
The power station still maintains its own fire teams, tenders and equipment. New protective clothing and equipment has been purchased to replace what has been donated.
Nicola added: “I would like to thank Rob Elliott and Ben Clark, Hinkley Point B’s Sustainability Coordinators, Martin Hiett, Operations, Stewart Ashcroft, Emergency Preparedness Engineer, and Tom Newbould, Performance Improvement for making this happen. Without their efforts and hard work, this donation would never have taken place.”