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A team of six local firefighters left the island on Monday to drive two fire engines to Ukraine.
Both engines are being donated by the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue (SJFRS) to help firefighters in Ukraine deal with the impacts of the Russian invasion.
Luke Burton, Matt Coote, John Richardson, Richard Wilson, Brian Brown, and Graham Stokes, who have all volunteered their time, will first be heading to Kent before continuing onwards to Poland.
The cost of the ferry crossing to Portsmouth has kindly been covered by Condor Ferries.
The six firefighters are part of a team of volunteers from across the UK who are taking vehicles including fire engines and lorries full of lifesaving equipment to Ukraine.
Jersey Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, who are part of Ports of Jersey, are also donating a number of items including protective clothing and medical supplies.
Before they set off, children from the families of the local firefighters donated a teddy bear or soft toy to travel with the fire engines for the children in the Ukraine.
This show of solidarity comes after the UK Home Office and National Fire Chiefs Council, working in partnership with the charity Fire Aid, requested that any equipment and vehicles due to be replaced, decommissioned, or disposed of, be donated to Ukrainian firefighters.
Firefighter Richard Wilson, who initiated the request for SJFRS to support Ukraine explained: “We’ve recently invested in new fire appliances for SJFRS, so I approached the senior leadership team to see if the two older appliances might be available for donation to Fire Aid, the charity organising help for Ukrainian firefighters.
“It was quickly agreed that we could donate the vehicles, and work started to get them ready for the journey to Poland, where they will be handed over to authorities who will arrange the onward deployment into Ukraine."
Chief Fire Officer, Paul Brown, added: "The commitment and offers of support from our firefighters to assist in this initiative has been outstanding and we are pleased to do anything we can to help Ukraine's firefighters during this very difficult time.
"I'm proud that SJFRS has donated two fire engines and a considerable amount of end-of-life equipment, with six of our firefighters driving over to Europe to deliver it."
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