Last month, London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations, Tom George officially handed over 2 appliances to FIRE AID. The 2 donated appliances will have a second lease of life in Tajikistan through a project jointly delivered by three of our key members; Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST), Women in the Fire Service (WFS) and Staffordshire Emergency Services Humanitarian Aid Association (SESSHA).

The equipment donation will be supported by familiarisation training delivered by SESHAA, alongside this the project aims to break gender perceptions by using female fighters from our partner, WFS to train and empower local women so they are able to provide first aid and basic rope rescue skills at the roadside. With road fatalities each year in Tajikistan averaging 1,543,Tajikistan has some of the world’s deadliest roads but their service is hugely under-funded, resourced and trained. Through equipment delivery and training, including rope rescue training we aim to support people living in remote areas to be able to rescue people and stabilise the casualty until the Emergency Service reach the scene. London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations Tom George said: “I am really pleased to donate two fire engines to the fire and rescue service in Tajikistan. With some of the world’s deadliest roads, it was heartbreaking to learn that 20% of road fatalities there are children. Hopefully, our equipment and expertise will go a long way to support the rescue of people living in remote areas.”