International fire link-up is saving lives
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FORMER Highland fire engines have helped to save thousands of lives in far-flung countries in the past decade – the leading local charity behind the scheme believes.
Blythswood Care and the Scottish Emergency Rescue Association only delivered their first three fire engines to Serbia as recently as 2007.
But despite being conceived as a one-off project it has since ballooned – with dozens of additional fire engines and other lifesaving rescue equipment being delivered to a number of countries including Romania, Serbia, Moldova and Burundi.
The latest consignment of five engines and a trailer load of firefighting equipment arrived in Moldova as recently as last month.
It took the number of fire engines delivered to 55. Some 500 firefighters have also received vital training over the past 11 years.
And those behind the link-up believe some 3000 lives may have been saved because of the project.
Gary Bennett leads the team of volunteers which includes mechanics and paramedics as well as experienced firefighters.
Having just returned Moldova he said they had trained 40 firefighters, reached more than 800 pupils in schools and colleges with a road and fire safety education programme, and distributed more than 600 smoke and heat detectors.
"The first time Blythswood took three fire engines to Serbia in 2007 we thought it was a one-off project," he said.
"But since then we have delivered 55 fire engines and ambulances and have trained over 500 firefighters.
"We reckon that over 3000 lives have been saved as a result."
Blythswood’s head of projects Finlay Mackenzie said: "Here in Scotland we take for granted the security we have in emergency cover.
"By sharing their time and expertise, Gary and his team of volunteers have extended that security to hundreds of thousands of people in Eastern Europe.
"Community leaders in Moldova, Romania and Serbia have expressed to me their appreciation for this expert assistance."
