Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is set to donate a fire engine as part of the largest UK fire and rescue service convoy to support firefighters in Ukraine.

Three ECFRS staff will make up a cohort of 100 volunteers on the April convoy, which will deliver crucial resources lost during the ongoing war.

Figures from the State Emergency Services of Ukraine show that since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, 100 firefighters have been killed, 431 injured, four are in captivity and one is missing. Over 400 firehouses and 1,700 fire vehicles have been destroyed, and 95 firehouses are now in occupied territories.

Amongst the 30 vehicles which have been donatedby 17  English and Welsh fire and rescue services are 26 fire engines, two detection, identification and monitoring vehicles, and two 4×4 vehicles, with four articulated lorries will also be used to transfer equipment – all of which are surplus to requirements.

The date of the convoy and the actual engine donated by ECFRS are being kept secret for security reasons.