Huntly man joins mission to deliver firefighting equipment to war torn Ukraine
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A HUNTLY man leaves today to drive a fire engine to Ukraine.
Mark Allan, (40) is part of a team from the Scottish Emergency Rescue Association (SERA) taking fire engines and personal protection equipment to help the struggling Ukrainian services.
The charity's efforts have been hindered by delays getting the registration documentation for the fire engines transferred by the DVLA.
The convoy had been due to leave from Edinburgh on Tuesday but following delays, Gordon MP Richard Thomson stepped-in to speed up getting the documentation changed to get them on their way to Ukraine with four refurbished fire appliances.
Mark, a crew manager at Huntly Fire Station, travelled to Ukraine last November to deliver six appliances and PPE equipment.
While there, they delivered training on behalf of SERA and forged friendships which continue today, although Mark is becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of some of the people he met.
Mark will be leaving behind his partner, Lauren, their two daughters and two older children from a previous relationship.
Because of the conflict, SERA do not know exactly where the appliances will be delivered to.
Each appliance will have a minimum of two drivers on board for the 1500 mile journey but the priority for SERA is to pack as much equipment into the vehicles as they can, filling every available space.
They will travel by ferry from Hull and Mark expects them to reach their destination within a couple of days.
Mark said: "We just know we are going to a Ukrainian border, where will be confirmed. The equipment is more needed than ever. When we were there firefighters wore gardening or welding gloves and their clothing was nothing like what we have.
"Fire engines are being destroyed in explosions so the four we take out will go immediately into action.
"Every bit of space will be packed with hoses and equipment and there's a lorry going too with PPE. When we get there. we'll empty the lorry then get on flights and come home."
Mark who works at Huntly Vehicle Care Centre and drives a school bus said he appreciated the support of his employers allowing him to go.
He said: "SERA put out a call and were looking for people who had been to Ukraine before. I had always said I would go if I got the chance and here I am.
"I hope the people I saw last time are safe. I have managed to contact some of them via Facebook using Google translate. "
Richard Thomson MP said: "The mission to Ukraine is extremely important and the least I could do was to try to get the DVLA to expedite the necessary paperwork for exporting the vehicles.”
On his return, Mark will be launching a community initiative to refurbish and kit out a fire engine to go to Ukraine in May.
