Fire-Aid International has a number of aims but the one which mainly concerns the fire appliance preservationist is number 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."

It has been a concern that far too many fire appliances finish up as scrap metal despite the fact that they form a very important part of our national heritage. Often an appliance is saved from the cutter's torch by a preservationist only to end up in pieces because its owner has lost his storage space, cannot afford to keep it or has lost interest in the vehicle. Then he is unable to sell it for continued preservation and the damn scrapman gets his hands on it so that in no time at all another little bit of history has gone forever.

It has to be accepted that not every fire appliance can be saved but it is important that stringent efforts are made to try and save as much as possible for future generations to admire and enjoy and Fire-Aid International is determined to do all in its power to support various projects.

However, whilst it may not be possible to save every fire appliance for preservation, it must be possible to save the vast majority for further use - many by the poorer fire brigades of the world, some of which have little or no proper equipment.

Thus Fire-Aid International has its principal aim number 2:

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

As these two aims go hand in hand Fire-Aid International is setting up a number of fire engine restoration societies which will collectively be known as FAIFERS.

Initially this scheme is to be operated in Hampshire and Dorset with the formation of three self financing societies - click on each name for details:

1 ) SAPFERS - Southampton and Portsmouth Fire Engine
Restoration Society

2) HAMPFERS - Hampshire Fire Engine Restoration Society

3) BADFERS - Bournemouth and Dorset Fire Engine
Restoration Society

These organisations will operate under the umbrella of Fire-Aid International but will be societies in their own right. Their aims will be:

1) To locate, obtain and restore fire appliances and
equipment from their respective locations.

2) To use these fire appliances to organise or support fund raising activities to benefit fire related or non fire related good causes.

3) To use these fire appliances to explain the history and development of firefighting.

4) In conjunction with the professional fire service, to further the aims of the Fire Safety awareness campaign.

Fire appliances will be loaned to worthwhile causes to be used for fund raising purposes.

It is the utmost concern of Fire-Aid International that in no way whatsoever will its members do anything which might antagonize past or present members of the British Fire Service.

It is also of prime importance that Fire-Aid International does not impede the activities of other fire related organisations especially the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund and the Fire Service Preservation Group; indeed it is hoped that assistance can be offered to these and other organisations which, hopefully, will be reciprocal.

Members of all Fire-Aid International Fire Engine Restoration Societies (FAIFERS) will not pay a membership fee but will have to fill out a membership form in which they will indicate the most appropriate FAIFERS with which to register. They will be requested to assist on a voluntary basis to further the aims of FAIFERS.

Before operating equipment in the care of FAIFERS, members will be expected to have received training on the correct use of the equipment and, where appropriate, hold the necessary qualifications.

FAIFERS will be self financing and will be administered by their own officers and committees but will be under the auspices of Fire-Aid International whose Co-ordinator will retain overall control.

The appliances in the care of FAIFERS will be in the ownership of Fire-Aid International; however a society will have the first refusal on an appliance in its care which FAI might wish to sell. The purchase price of any vehicle will reflect the condition in which it was accepted into the FAIFERS fleet.

Naturally the above does not refer to fire appliances which have been loaned by individual members for the use of Fire-Aid International Fire Engine Restoration Societies.

In the event of an individual society being wound up, Fire-Aid International will reimburse its membership with an appropriate sum which will reflect the work carried out and the condition of appliances in its care at the time the society is closed down.