The UK is set to supply 17 specialist firefighting vehicles to Ukraine’s fire and rescue services.
The vehicles, primarily sourced from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Defence Fire and Rescue, with one provided by the Welsh Government, are due to arrive in the coming weeks.
The urgently required equipment aims to bolster Ukraine’s capability to counter the damage inflicted by Russia’s continued use of cruise missiles and one-way attack drones against the country’s infrastructure.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated, “These specialist firefighting vehicles will boost Ukraine’s ability to protect its infrastructure from Russia’s campaign of missile and drone attacks and continue our support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes.”
The specialist vehicles, known as Rapid Intervention and Major Foam Vehicles, were gathered from various locations around the UK and delivered to RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire.
In anticipation of the vehicles’ arrival, members of the Ukrainian Military Fire Service underwent a week’s training at RAF Wittering. This programme, designed and delivered by the RAF and Defence Fire and Rescue, served to familiarise the Ukrainians with the vehicles before they are put into operation.
Defence Chief Fire Officer Sim Nex expressed pride in the specialist support that’s been facilitated, stating, “We are confident that the equipment provided to date, and associated training, will directly enhance firefighting capability, as we consider further opportunities to support the Ukrainian Military Fire Service moving forward.”
The contribution of specialist firefighting vehicles follows previous UK donations to Ukraine, which have included around eight tonnes of personal protective equipment for firefighting, medical equipment, and over 100 industrial-strength generators.
Hope there’s still enough left in the 🇬🇧 to put any fires out! 😁
Quentin wrote:
“”Hope there’s still enough left in the 🇬🇧 to put any fires out! 😁””
The media are on the case in which to ensure there are more firemen with hoses deployed
Excellent news!!! Of course we can take all this literally and metaphorically and apply it to other donated equipment too. Still, good on the 🇬🇧. This is a very useful and thoughtful donation.
We have Rain every 3 days in the UK, nature will put out any fire LOL,
The kit being donated is no longer in service with the RAF fire service. We have newer fire vehicles in service now.
If only the U.K. still had the green goddess vehicles. 🤦🏼♂️
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Goddess
The government warehouses are getting a good clear out.
What I found a bit odd was the vehicles and kit still for sale on MOD surplus website. CVRTs, land rovers. I hope Ukraine gets to pick what they want first before being sold.
Yeah, that was the first page I went to when hearing this story. Also, I would have thought that this business that dealers in surplus stock would be plundered for parts and additional vehicles.
There is certainly one Company ( no association ) I know of which is refurbishing(?) well at least making sure everyting works _ which is busy at the moment the problem seems to be sourcing spare parts. Take a look a Tanks a lot on facebook. Semms they are having a boon time as opposed to selling to collectors or film set supply. As ever with disposals they are sold as seen by auction. I suppose we do not have enough spanner users to get the kit ready for deployment , that would mean the MOD would get a much… Read more »
I was Down RAF Lyneham, apart from the solar farm that’s popped up, the Hangers which used to be full of old kit, or stuff not deemed fit for service, has Gone they are empty. which considering the kit that used to be stored there. Lot of the RAF ground handling kit has moved as well
Was Looking the other day and 3 Brand New 0 Miles Landrover C/Cabs un-used why would you sell them, but sometimes the amount they paid as part of 20 would be less than there current value. used to be like the Post Office and there 2 year vans, as they brought in the 100s they were worth more when they sold them on the open market 2 years later
It’s madness. Offer them to Ukraine, if they don’t want them, fine sell them. But sometimes what is for sale is madness when there’s a war on.
The government warehouses get cleared out frequently. The Green Godesses were disposed of from 2004.
Not sure why you find it odd that obsolete and ‘no longer needed’ military vehicles and other kit are sold off – that has always been done.
I don’t find it odd normally. But just now Ukraine needs everything it can use to stop its people dying. To continue business as usual selling the type of vehicles that are being gifted to them is what’s strange. Give Ukraine first refusal on items. They know what they need. I know the green goddess were disposed of after the government changed policy/law that allows fire service equipment to be used in the result of fireman striking. As one poster said 3 0 miles landrovers up for sale on the site. Ukrainians have been raising money to purchase the same… Read more »
I was sure that UKR is considered ahead of all else before kit is put up for sale, usually by auction. I thought we had given them all that they have asked for? Your point about Land Rovers though makes me ponder. That’s disturbing. Green Goddesses were a 1950s design and were considered outdated and dangerous (and of limited effectiveness) when army crews drove them in the 1977 firemans strike! You are right that policy now is for the army to use in-service fire appliances in the event of firemens strike – but that poses 2 problems: 1. army crews… Read more »
I hope they do get first refusal. Trying to find out if that’s actually the case has been difficult so far.
Good good, keep it coming
Intresting video from the city of Makivika (bang next to the city of Donetsk) where a Russian ammunition depot was in sore need of a few fire engines the other day
Fair bit of Disused RAF station kit that was knocking around has vanished, looks like its all been gathered and the best kept and the moderate stuff gifted.
For a minute there I thought they were going to bring back the ‘Green Goddesses’. 😆