FIRE AID and volunteers from Devon + Somerset Fire and Rescue Service returned to Nepal in January 2019 to deliver further training and equipment, the team of 6 volunteers, including 2 USAR technicians flew out to Kathmandu to meet a large equipment donation supplied through FIRE AID and delivered by the Ministry Of Defense.

Once in country the team divided into two with the equipment. Some equipment was donated to the Nepalese Army rescue battalions and the 2 USAR technicians travelled out to their training camp outside of Kathmandu to provide training on this.

The remaining equipment was sent to more remote towns and municipalities where they currently have no, or very little firefighting capabilities. The team headed 12 hours East to Salleri, a small town in Solududhkunda municipality where just last year a large property fire burnt uncontrollably due to lack of resources. Salleri is a small town, with a population of around 7,000. The main town area is built into the steep hillside and roads are narrow and often unsurfaced. As such, a different approach to providing a fire cover is required. The equipment needed here is basic, the idea being to set up a ‘pop-up’ fire station in order to give the area some firefighting capability without being overly complicated or unsuitable to the area. The team provided a full day of basic training on this basis and both equipment and training were very well received.

The 2 USAR volunteers have now returned to the UK but team leader, John Monaghan along with two other Devon + Somerset Fire and Rescue Service colleagues remain in Nepal distributing the rest of the equipment and providing Fire Safety training across the country in Dharan, Mechi Nagar and Tanahun. Before John heads back to the UK he plans on heading out to the orphanage in Sindupulchowk to deliver all of the donated clothing, toys and musical instruments.