Fire service sends trucks to help front line fight in Ukraine

SWFRS is sending fire trucks to Ukraine Photo credit: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has donated another set of fire trucks to the war effort in Ukraine.

The service will send six end-of-service trucks (appliances) to help support firefighting colleagues in the country as part of a UK-wide effort of 30 vehicles in total.

This convoy, the eighth incorporating donations from SWFRS to frontline efforts since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

The group will travel from the UK to Poland and The Polish Fire and Rescue Service will then deliver the vehicles to the Ukrainian border.

The trucks will be driven by three volunteers each, making 18 drivers in total and one of those is Barry Tolman, Station Manager, Business Fire Safety.

Barry said: “Participating in this convoy is a career highlight for me. As I retire in just four weeks after 30 years of service, it will be one of the last things I do to give back. I joined the service to help people, and I hope to finish my time here doing just that.”

Mick Antoniw, Sennedd Constituency member for Pontypridd said: “I think it is fantastic, not only the six appliances going from South Wales Fire and Rescue, but 30 from the UK as a whole. These are vehicles that are much needed in Ukraine right now, which will be used on the frontline to save lives.”

“I understand the appliances are also carrying a lot of equipment, which is essential for the first responders in Ukraine, who are losing their lives trying to counter the effects of the drone and missile attacks. As a second generation Ukrainian, and as someone who has family serving in Ukraine, this means a lot to me personally.”