Disused fire engines from Lincolnshire to be sent to Ukraine
The project aims to support communities in Ukraine
Lincolnshire will be playing a significant part in supporting Ukraine by supplying disused fire engines.
Simon Massey from Sleaford visited Ukraine shortly after the war broke out and was then inspired to found the charity Action Beyond Words.
They're fundraising to send three disused fire engines to areas where equipment has been redeployed to the front line.
On 19 April, a team of volunteer firefighters using their own leave will drive over 1,800 miles in 36 hours to Ukraine, covering personal costs to ensure these fire engines reach their destinations.
One fire engine replaces a station destroyed in a missile strike
They will stop at Medyka, Poland, meeting Actions Beyond Words' co-founder Simon at a converted humanitarian warehouse, a vital 12-bed base for volunteers built through donations.
The fire engines will be going to Uzhhorod, Western Ukraine – a city struggling with aging, failing fire engines after its modern fleet. was taken for military use under wartime law.
Its hospital continues to receive evacuees injured by Russian attacks.
Norfolk teams have worked with them in the past—even before 2014—and now, they give back once again.
It's literally life changing and game changing
Odessa, Southern Ukraine – One fire engine replaces a station destroyed in a missile strike, vital for high-risk rescues.
Urgent medical supplies will also be delivered to Odessa’s hospital.
Simon told us: "Yesterday in one part of Ukraine we had a fire engine and yesterday we had a fire house and today we don't have any of those things because we had a Russian drone strike last night."
"The worst part of this is that because the fire fighter crews are Government employees when there was no firehouse and no engine they were sent to the front lines."
"It's literally life changing and game changing - the way they now have to navigate fire fighting in their community in the last 6 or 12 months (whenever it was) since their more modern equipment was taken means they're using 1920s and 1930s ex Soviet equipment."
"They were redeployed and so one of the amazing things that will come out of this is when we take a new fire engine they will recall those guys because they're trained and can do the job and we're working with a partner organisation to try and build a fire house as well."
Rayo Premium