Long-serving Tenby firefighter Jeremy Rossiter has joined the fire service’s nationwide effort to supply war torn Ukraine with emergency service vehicles.
Jeremy known as ‘Longy’ whose full-time profession is working for the family firm W & M J Rossiter & Sons Ltd funeral directors based in Tenby, set off yesterday (May 4) to join fellow fire crew members in assisting to transport 22 firefighting appliances to the Ukraine border in Poland.
“One of our own firefighters, Jeremy ‘Longy’ Rossiter, volunteered to be a part of the team. From everyone at Station 37 TENBY, we wish them all a safe journey,” Tenby Fire Station posted on Facebook.
As a gesture of support to Ukrainian firefighters, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was one of the force areas that donated four appliances to the fire services in Ukraine last month.
A further fire appliance and an incident response unit left this week to join up with a UK wide, fire and rescue, convoy that will be travelling across Europe to deliver a fleet of appliances in Poland.
The UK wide convoy is being coordinated by the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Aid Charity.
Watch Manager Chris Doyle, who will be among the team from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service that will drive the appliances across the continent, said: “Everyone is aware of the tragic events that are happening in Ukraine at the moment and this as small way that we can help our friend and counterparts in Ukraine.
“Our mission is to join up with a wider convoy, that has been organised by Fire Aid and the National Fire Chiefs Council, before setting off across the continent to deliver these appliances in Poland.”
Group Manager Ashley Hopkins, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “It is heart-wrenching to see and hear of the suffering that the people and communities of Ukraine are enduring.
“When we sought applications of interest for volunteers from our workforce, to deliver these four appliances to Poland, we were inundated by requests to volunteer.
“I hope that the delivery of these two fire appliances and two incident response units will aid the Ukrainian fire services during this terrible time.”