In May 2017, a fully equipped fire-fighting vehicle with a full complement of road crash rescue equipment and personal protective equipment was donated by FIRE AID members Operation Florian and EASST to the Fire Safety Unit of Tiraspol.

In May 2017, a fully equipped fire-fighting vehicle with a full complement of road crash rescue equipment and personal protective equipment was donated by FIRE AID members Operation Florian and EASST to the Fire Safety Unit of Tiraspol following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the three parties.

Training at the Fire Safety Unit, Tiraspol

The main goal of the donation and training, supported by the British Embassy Chisinau, is to contribute to a strengthened emergency response in saving lives and property, and protecting emergency personnel in Tiraspol where resources for response are limited.

Road traffic collision training using the crew’s first-ever rescue equipment

The delivery of the vehicle (donated by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service), rescue equipment and personal protective equipment was accompanied by an intensive training programme delivered by volunteers from Operation Florian. There was a particular focus on improving the emergency response to fire incidents and road traffic collisions in Tiraspol and neighbouring communities, and ensuring that personnel are equipped safely whilst on duty. 

Certificates were awarded to those who completed the training course

The team of 6 from the UK consisted of Bruce Hoad (Operation Florian and FIRE AID), Julie Utting (EASST and FIRE AID), and 4 Florian instructors Dave Thurston (East Sussex FRS), Robert Clark (Surrey FRS), Jeremy Upton (East Sussex FRS), and Trevor Funnell (East Sussex FRS) who delivered this first-ever initiative with support from the British Embassy Chisinau.

A demonstration of new RTC skills by the Tiraspol crew

All the involved partners, including the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Reintegration, as well as the responsible bodies from Tiraspol, provided their support in facilitating these activities.

These activities were made possible thanks to the financial support of the UK government’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund. 

The team would like to thank too the Worshipful Company of Firefighters Charitable Trust for their support of FIRE AID.