Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 27/07/2009 10:48

Cornwall County Fire Brigade has joined forces with The Overseas Project Team (OPT) of District 1290 of Rotary International (Cornwall, Plymouth & West Devon) and the local Rotary Clubs from Lostwithiel and Redruth, to help Camborne Firefighter Dave Harvey realise his dream of providing fully equipped fire appliances to Albania.

The first of the appliances will set off on 9 September to Krume in Northern Albania and will kick start the setting up of a brand new fire station. The appliance will be in convoy with the OPT van and trailer, driven by members of the Lostwithiel Rotary Club, who are going on to Gjakova in Kosova taking equipment to Handikos, a centre for paraplegic and paralysed children. An additional fire support vehicle has yet to be procured.

A second appliance will depart on 12 September to Lac, just north of Albania’s capital Tirana, and will be in constant contact with all other travelling vehicles and with the base in Cornwall. Both appliances are being prepared, cleaned, serviced and stocked with kit donated from Florian Project and other Fire Industry sources from all corners of the UK.

Fundraising is now underway to raise money for much needed supplies for the appliances which will be out and about in the region to raise awareness of the project. Donations can also be made by contacting Dave Harvey on 07737 354861 or Rotarian Barry Kressinger on 01566 776136.

Dave, whose wife is originally from Albania, has seen at first hand the depleted state of fire fighting equipment in the country where vehicles are in a poor state and are not equipped with breathing apparatus.

The OPT has vast experience and working knowledge of overseas projects, so joining forces with personnel from CCFB, the project team has the skills needed to make the project a success.

The convoy will travel through twelve different countries in all, with crews hoping to secure accommodation at fire stations along the route. Each appliance, one based at Liskeard and one at Camborne, has a team working on it, including past and present employees of CCFB and members of the OPT, all giving up their time and money to make sure the trip runs as smoothly as possible.

Dave Harvey said “I would like to thank all those involved in the project. Seeing what was once a dream now turning into reality is a breathtaking experience, one which I hope will get to be more and more rewarding once the appliances are delivered to those who need them most.”

Rotarian Barry Kressinger added “We would like to extend our thanks to CCFB Brigade Engineer Mike Clayton for all his efforts in both this project and for his invaluable assistance during our trip to Kosova back in 2007. This trip will also have Gary Robinson joining us as part of his degree course at Truro College. His account of his experiences will allow others to see just what great work takes place in training the Firefighters to use the newly delivered equipment”.

The trip team will consist of Dave Harvey, Simon Jose, Paul James and Roger Watson from the Rotary Club of Redruth and the Liskeard team of Rob Collins, Scott Marks and Alan Constance. Assisting both teams are Peter and Gary Robinson, along with two standby drivers, John Hutchens of Bodmin and Roy Hooper of Launceston. The OPT van will be driven by Lostwithiel Rotarians Vic May, Roddy McDonald and John Hurst.