Blazing to Serbia – ‘Trial Convoy’
Media filming/photography/interview opportunity

A convoy of six Fire Engines will depart on Thursday 13th October, 1.30pm (13:30hrs)
Caerphilly Castle (front side)

Filming, photographs and interviews with:

Steve Logan, Station Commander and Project Leader, Caerphilly Fire Station

The Serbia ‘crew’ - Firefighters and young Firefighters

To register your interest, please contact South Wales Fire and Recue Service media team on:

RACHEL MCCOY ON 01443 232277
r-mccoy@southwales-fire.gov.uk

Background
Blazing to Serbia - Old fire engines head for a new life in Serbia

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have 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.

He 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.”

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.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway said:

“This is an ethical way to use end of life appliances and equipment while supporting developing countries.”

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.uk

Caerphilly Fire Station is now hoping the community will help them. If anyone wants to sponsor a fire appliance or donate, contact South Wales Fire and Rescue Service headquarters on 01443 232000 and ask for Steve Logan

Further information:

www.southwales-fire.gov.uk

OR VISIT

www.facebook.com/SWFireandRescue

http://twitter.com/#!/swfireandrescue

http://www.blazingtoserbia.co.uk