National Fire Chiefs Council and Maritime and Coastguard Agency partner for emergency aid

In an urgent response to a call from the Home Office, more than 2,000 items of water rescue equipment have been dispatched to Ukraine. This was made possible through a joint effort by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. This crucial equipment is set to play a significant role in ongoing rescue operations in the region.

Disaster aftermath prompts rapid response

The donations from the fire and rescue services arrived following an urgent plea from the Home Office directed to NFCC’s National Resilience function. The aid will be employed by the State Emergency Services in Ukraine in their ongoing relief operations, particularly addressing the fallout from flooding triggered by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station on 6th June.

Quick identification and preparation of supplies

In response to the Home Office’s request, fire and rescue services identified available resources within 48 hours. National Resilience arranged the collection of the equipment at a central location where it was prepared for transportation to Ukraine by UK International Search and Rescue. The process was supported by FireAID and the Fire Industry Association and the shipment was dispatched on 13th June.

The delivery comprises over 2,300 items from 28 fire services, including various types of rescue boats, water rescue sleds, water pumps and water rescue personal protective equipment.

Officials express pride and gratitude

NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham expressed his gratitude and pride: “I’m proud of the fast response from fire and rescue services to provide boats and water rescue equipment to support emergency responders and communities in Ukraine. NFCC is grateful to our colleagues at HM Coastguard for partnering with us to support the request to this unfolding tragedy. National Resilience and fire and rescue services have worked tirelessly to ensure the equipment is able to leave the UK quickly; once again we stand in support of our colleagues in Ukraine.”

Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp, reiterated this sentiment: “This donation is a testament to our ongoing support of Ukrainian services and aid organisations, which are in desperate need of equipment following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. I am immensely proud that we are once again supporting the recovery efforts in Ukraine by donating a further convoy of life-saving equipment, including 19 rescue boats.”

Director of HM Coastguard, Claire Hughes, underlined their commitment to assist in the rescue efforts: “As a key partner in flood response, NFCC made contact with HM Coastguard to ask if we could offer any additional support, to assist ongoing rescue efforts in Ukraine. We have provided Water Rescue Buoyancy aids, rescue throwlines and water rescue stretchers, these are all key resources for flood response and will complement the equipment provided by the Fire and Rescue Services. We understand that this is an urgent and fast-moving situation and are pleased to able to work with key partners to offer support to fellow rescuers working in very challenging conditions.”

Ukraine’s gratitude

Head of the State Emergency Service in Ukraine, Serhiy Kruk, expressed his gratitude: “We are extremely grateful to our British friends for quickly finding and sending the necessary water rescue equipment to support the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in this time of need. When we are united, we are invincible. And with such friends as the British people and the government – we will definitely win.”