Life Saving Fire Kit sent to Kenya

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service is donating life saving equipment to the people of Meru, Kenya.  A fully operational fire engine and fire fighting equipment were sent on their way to Africa from Fire HQ in Kempston on Tuesday 14th April.

The donation has been made by the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) after a request from the Christian charity Onset Trust.  The Onset Trust was set up four years ago by the Dunstable Community Church. Church member Fredrick Akandi is from Meru and told the group that the area has no fire engine or professional fire fighting equipment.

CFA Chair Anthony Duggan presented the keys to Fredrick Akandi at an official handing over ceremony: "This is a very important day for us.  We are delighted to be donating this fire engine to help the people of Meru and their fire and rescue service."

"Although no longer able to meet the very high standards of the UK Fire Service and therefore redundant, the fire engine is road worthy and the equipment is all primed and ready for action and will hopefully provide many years of life saving service to the area."

Meru is situated in Eastern Kenya, with a population of approximately 500 000, it is an important coffee producing area which has suffered forest fires this year.  

Fred Akandi said : "We have not had a work working fire engine for five years, at the moment buckets of water are used to put out fire.  From the bottom of my heart I thank you all, this is something that will help so many people and save lives. This is a great humanitarian gift to our people."

The fire engine left Fire Headquarters the same day, on its 28 day journey to Meru.    The Combined Fire Authority has further supported the donation by planning to send two Fire Officers and an engineer to Meru to help show locals how to use and maintain the equipment. The Onset Trust will also provide ongoing support for replacement parts when needed.

In 2006, Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire Authority donated two fire engines to towns in Pakistan which has been badly affected by an earthquake.  Reporting by Jane Manners