Old fire engines head for a new life in Serbia

On Wednesday 19th October, members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service will depart from Caerphilly Castle, South Wales with the aim of driving a convoy of six fire engines across Europe to Serbia. These appliances will then be donated to the country of Serbia. 

This epic journey will take five days to complete, cover a distance of over 1400 miles and will take the team through eight European countries before entering Serbia.

Steve Logan, Station Commander at Caerphilly Fire Station, is the driving force behind the project and said: “The fire engines that stand to be disposed of are at the end of their working life under British standards. But in developing countries like Serbia, what we consider end of working life, I think they consider is their infancy. Because we have this natural disposal programme, in my opinion, it’s criminal to scrap those vehicles and not be able to give them a new lease of life.”

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway said: “This is an ethical way to use end of life appliances and equipment while supporting developing countries.”

“Steve and his team of supporters have working tirelessly to raise the funds needed to transport these much needed appliances to Serbia”.

“Steve and his team have been faced with many obstacles along the way, however their passion, drive and enthusiasm for the successful completion of the project has meant the planned convoy of six appliances will depart from Caerphilly Castle on Wednesday 19th October and will make their way to Serbia”. I am sure I speak for everyone in the Service by wishing them a safe and successful journey”. 

Background
A number of months back South Wales Fire and Rescue Service approved plans to recycle old engines by sending them to Serbia for a “new lease of life”.The three-year programme aims to assist developing countries and is a bid to improve South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority’s green credentials.

The decision to recycle unwanted appliances rather than scrap them comes as the service is just about to take charge of several new ones. The new models will replace ones which have been used at Fire Stations throughout South Wales for at least the past 15 years.

Some older stock will be transferred to other Stations and some models will be put aside as “stand-by” machines. But part of the old fleet can be sent to Serbia to help replace its out-dated machines – some of which are converted 1950s Russian Army lorries.

Steve Logan, Station Commander at Caerphilly Fire Station, is the driving force behind the project.

Last year, he and his team of young firefighters, firefighters, instructors and station personnel sent a redundant fire appliance and other firefighting equipment, which would otherwise have been scrapped, to Serbia.
In conjunction with Blue Stag Media, Cardiff the team have also developed a brand new website detailing all of the journey details; www.blazingtoserbia.co.ukTo make a donation, contact South Wales Fire and Rescue Service headquarters on 01443 232000 and ask for Steve Logan