Thank you ?@colin_elsbury? for coming to see us off. Your support is very much appreciated pic.twitter.com/zxBnMdXHzR
— Blazing To Serbia (@BlazingToSerbia) October 15, 2018
A convoy of three fire engines from south Wales are due to arrive in Serbia today as part of a project donating rescue equipment to the country.
The three fire engines are the latest vehicles to be donated through the Blazing to Serbia project.
Originally set up in 2011 by Steve Logan, Station Commander at Caerphilly Fire Station, the project helps developing fire brigades in Serbia gain access to more modern firefighting equipment.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service donated the three engines through national charity Fire Aid, which in turn donated them to Blazing to Serbia.
Firefighters, volunteers and fire cadets are among the team making the 1,500-mile road trip.
The three engines set off from Caerphilly on Monday, October 15, and have made stops at fire stations in France, Germany, and Austria. The three donated fire engines are also full of donated equipment – including 150 defibrillators from fire brigades in London.
The ?@BlazingToSerbia? team shared a meal with Firefighters from South Korea & from Koblenz Fire Station pic.twitter.com/lYwrFW18Z9
— Blazing To Serbia (@BlazingToSerbia) October 16, 2018
Mr Logan said: “The stuff that they have is either non-existent, or very old. The equipment that we’ve deemed to have come to the end of its working life, is equipment that lots of fire units in Serbia don’t have – or if they have, it is really, really, old.
“As a result, it is going to provide modern, lifesaving equipment to firefighters and allow them to provide a better service to their communities.
“This is my 27th visit to Serbia and I’ve never seen a defibrillator on any fire engine anywhere that we’ve been. These defibrillators, which began their working life in London, are now going to be given a second working life and they’re going to be saving lives in Serbia.”
Including the three most recent ones, a total of 27 fire engines have been donated to Serbia, with 25 coming from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, one from power tools manufacturer Bosch, which had an old engine at its former plant, and another from the Valero oil refinery in Pembrokeshire.
“Feels like I’m on annual leave”
Driving one of the fire engines to Serbia is Phil Logan, who until recently was the watch manager in charge of Blue Watch at Caerphilly Fire Station.
The brother of station commander Steve, Phil has retired after 30 years of service. His last shift at Caerphilly, where he has been based for the last 23 years, finished on the morning of Saturday, September 22.
Speaking while en route to Serbia, Phil, 52, said: “It feels quite strange [to be retired from the service] to be absolutely honest. It still feels like I’m on annual leave – 30 years is a long time.”
Mr Logan said he would miss the camaraderie among colleagues. Current and former firefighters held a special meal for him during his last shift.
He said: “It’s a bit like a social club in work that we are all close friends and it’s a close-knit family. When you’ve got stories to tell, you need someone to tell them to – that’s the joy of the fire service.”
It is a @BlazingToSerbia tradition that we wash the fire trucks at Szeged Fire Station, before driving on to the border pic.twitter.com/idoU9oKEjc
— Blazing To Serbia (@BlazingToSerbia) October 20, 2018
Taking in a football match – Serbia vs Wales
The trip has also coincided with Wales’ Women’s Under 17s football match against Serbia being played on Monday, October 22.
Three of the players lodge with Steve Logan and his family while they are based at the Football Association of Wales’ elite women’s academy based at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach campus.
The match is a qualifier for the European Championships and the Blazing to Serbia crew will be there in full Welsh voice supporting the girls.