Fire service donates kit for latest Ukraine convoy

Humberside Fire and Rescue has donated more than 700 pieces of equipment to a convoy taking vehicles and kit to firefighters in Ukraine.

The UK fire and rescue service convoy will set off next month to deliver 30 fire and rescue vehicles and more than 15,000 pieces of equipment.

Humberside Chief Fire Officer Phil Shillito said he was "enormously proud" to have contributed to the national effort.

The convoy is the eight such trip since the Russian invasion in 2022.

The Fire Industry Association said the equipment was vital to replace the resources lost during the war.

As of 17 February, it said Ukrainian fire services had lost 1,700 vehicles, 411 fire stations had been destroyed and 100 firefighters had been killed.

The convoy has been by organised fire and rescue services across the UK, in partnership with the government, National Resilience, UK International Search and Rescue, Fire Aid, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Industry Association.

Twenty-six fire engines have been donated, and a team of 100 volunteers will take kit such as such as hoses, PPE and road accident equipment.

Mr Shillito said: "I'm enormously proud that we are part of a national effort for the people of Ukraine and their firefighters, and other emergency services who risk their lives to help protect the communities they serve."

Vitalii Myroniuk from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said: "Every Ukrainian rescuer works tirelessly to safeguard our statehood and our nation. And we are able to endure thanks to our British friends, who share our common values of freedom and the rule of law."

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