Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Truro Fire Station at 29/10/2003 12:00

****Photo Opportunity****
12pm on Wednesday 29th October 2003 at Truro Fire Station


Cornwall County Fire Brigade is donating a fire engine to Croatia in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cornwall, Plymouth and West Devon, to help provide the third world country with fire fighting equipment.

Cornwall County Fire Brigade has donated fire engines in the past, including four water ladders to Mombasa in 2001. The ‘Air for Africa’ project began in 1998 when Sub Officer Peter Stephens, now retired, visited the country on holiday. He was so appalled at the state of their Fire Brigade that he raised money to donate much needed items of equipment to the country.

Over the past few years Rotarians of District 1290 (Cornwall, Plymouth and West Devon) have provided aid to Belarus, Kosova and Croatia. Earlier this year a team of Rotarians completed a project at Kraljevica, southern Croatia involving a playroom for severely mentally and physically handicapped children. Further research in Croatia has identified a further project for the District Overseas Project Team to tackle.

Gradusa Pos is a small rural community located a few miles north of the Croatian/Bosnian border, an area that experienced a number of atrocities during the war in the mid 1990’s. Substantial damage was caused in the area and mines laid on a large scale.
Prior to the war much of the activity in and around Gradusa Pos was based on the combined community centre and volunteer fire station. The volunteer fire service was particularly active and became a focal point for social activity as well as providing fire cover (most of the houses are wooden). During the conflict the community centre/fire station was used by the invading force, the end result being a damaged building and the removal of serviceable fire fighting equipment including the community’s only fire appliance. The current project is designed to “kick-start” an understandably lethargic community that has experienced years of very little progress since the war.

The project is in two parts to include the provision of a fire appliance and provision of water to the combined community centre/fire station, and the installation of toilets, showers and a modest kitchen together with some renovation of the building.

“Rotarians within District 1290 are very grateful for the gift of a recently ‘retired’ fire appliance from Cornwall County Fire Brigade. This vehicle will be driven to Croatia in November by Rotarians and there is already great excitement within the Gradusa Pos community that they will again have a fire fighting vehicle within their midst. Members of the Fire Brigade have been particularly helpful and supportive of this project – a particular “thank you” to Mike Clayton for all that he has done” said Barry Kressinger, Rotarian of District 1290

The cost of conveying the vehicle to Croatia has been borne by Rotary Clubs within District 1290 together with Imerys who have given the Project Team a cheque to cover fuel expenses. This is the second time that Imerys has supported Rotary projects in Croatia and their interest and generosity is very much appreciated.
“Cornwall County Fire Brigade will continue to supply third world countries with equipment that, in many instances, has no further use in Great Britain” said Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Webster

He cont: “Saving lives and preventing fires is an important business, both here in Cornwall and in Croatia”

The provision of the fire appliance to Gradusa Pos will fulfill the first part of the project, the second will be undertaken in March 2004. In the meanwhile the Project Team will be working to secure funding and the materials needed to complete what is considered to be a very worthwhile project. People in this area have suffered greatly from the effects of war and need the support of other countries to help them recover.