A Guide to

FIRE-AID INTERNATIONAL

 

The origins of Fire-Aid International lie in a meeting held between its Founder Co-ordinator Simon N. Rowley and officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when a project to supply second-hand UK fire appliances to various UK dependencies in the Caribbean was formulated.

 

Subsequently a number of former West Yorkshire pumping appliances plus a pair of rescue tenders were purchased from the brigade and shipped to Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Montserrat. Funding for this aid project came directly from UK government sources but Fire-Aid International made all the arrangements for shipping and transporting the vehicles to their destinations.

 

The appliances were on Dodge and Bedford chassis and were fully stowed; the West Yorkshire Fire Service carried out all the maintenance that was needed before the vehicles were taken to the Port of Felixstowe. Fire-Aid International then took responsibility and prepared the appliances for shipping.

 

This project was highly successful and it was followed soon afterwards by a similar project for the Guyana Fire Service in South America. Fire-Aid International sourced a number of fire appliances, including two turntable ladders and a breathing apparatus tender, and carried out full refurbishment, when it was needed, before shipping the vehicles, via Felixstowe, to Georgetown.

 

Some appliances were donated by brigades as was some equipment although the majority of the funding once again came from UK government sources. This is an ongoing project with further assistance being arranged in the near future.

Fire-Aid International carried out all the arrangements to upgrade the fire service on the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic. Using UK government funding, two full size second-hand Dodge water tender ladders and a Land Rover rescue tender were supplied together with a full range of fire-fighting and rescue equipment.

 

With UK overseas aid not available for a project to supply fire appliances to a civilian fire brigade in Romania, Fire-Aid International raised enough funds to supply a pair of former West Midlands Fire Service Dennis RS133 water tender ladder appliances together with some equipment.

 

These were delivered in 1996 to the Hateg region where they have been used extensively alongside other similar appliances donated through privately organised schemes co-ordinated by members of the BAA Fire Service who made the arrangements for shipment and transportation of all the vehicles.

 

In order to expand its fire appliance aid projects, Fire-Aid International has carried out a number of refurbishment programmes on former UK local authority fire appliances and ambulances which have been supplied, on a commercial basis, to various brigades in the UK, Ireland and Malta.

 

These have included the Port of Felixstowe, Allied Colloids, Holliday Dyes and Chemicals and GE Aircraft Engines in the UK, Waterford County Fire Service and Cork County Fire Service in Eire and the International Fire Training School and St John Ambulance in Malta.

 

Fire-Aid International has also a considerable interest in the preservation of historical fire appliances and equipment to the extent that more than two dozen vehicles have been saved from the breakers although many are still in an “ un-restored “ condition.

 

The intention is to set up self financing “ preservation “ groups and further details on this scheme can be found on the pages covering Preservation Projects.

Fire-Aid International recognizes the need to save redundant fire appliances from the “ cutter’s torch “ whether for further use or preservation and therefore welcomes every offer of assistance.

Fire-Aid International has the following “PRINCIPAL AIMS“:

 

1 ) To actively support fund raising activities which will provide benefits for both fire and non fire organisations.

 

2 ) To actively support and promote the further use of redundant fire appliances and equipment by the poorer countries of the world.

 

3 ) To actively support and promote the preservation of historical fire appliances, equipment and memorabilia and other types of rescue and emergency vehicles and associated equipment.

 

4 ) To complement and promote the work of fire safety departments and, in conjunction with the professional fire service, to further the aims of the Fire Safety awareness campaign.

 

5 ) To organise and carry out fund raising activities in order to further the Principal Aims of Fire-Aid International.

 

FIRE-AID INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT

 

Fire-Aid International is committed to using all available means to further its Principal Aims but it will take every possible step to safeguard the good name of the Fire and Rescue Service.

 

In order to assist with the finances during “ aid “ projects, Fire-Aid International will continue to accept commercial orders and it will guarantee to supply vehicles and equipment of high quality and of good value.

 

Click for illustrations of some of the vehicles which we have supplied:

. Anguilla Fire & Rescue Service

. British Virgin Islands Fire & Rescue Service

. Turks and Caicos Civil Aviation Department

. Montserrat Fire Department

. Guyana Fire Service pumping appliances

. Guyana Fire Service special appliances

. St Helena Fire & Rescue Service

. Romanian Fire Service

. UK non local authority pumping appliances

. UK non local authority light pumping appliances

. County Waterford (Ireland)

. County Cork (Ireland)

. Irish non local authority

. Malta

. Fire-Aid International demonstrators