Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Mick Crennell and a GAFSIP team have delivered three fire engines, other equipment and uniforms to the Gambian Fire Service.
CFO Mick Crennell with Deputy Chief Fire Officer of The Gambia Fire Rescue Service, Lamin Sanyang
As part of the Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP), the Avon Fire & Rescue has been helping to enhance the capabilities of the Gambian fire service for nearly 30 years by providing lifesaving equipment, capability and training.
In the latest donation, Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) has donated three fire engines along with breathing apparatus and other equipment to firefighters in the region.
CFO Mick Crennell also visited various stations on his visit to the region and held meetings with Gambia’s Chief about how to continue to enhance the relationship.
While on his visit, Mick expressed and confirmed the Service’s commitment to continue to support and enhance the relationship for the mutual benefit of both services.
He said: “As a Fire Authority and a Service, we are honoured and privileged to be able to have this partnership with the Gambian Fire and Rescue Service and we will continue to support its development.
“We have seen the level of support grow, and what’s more, we have seen the level of the professionalism of the fire service in the Gambia grow throughout our partnership. We have seen what a difference our equipment and training makes and the lives it has helped save.
“We are looking forward to the future because this partnership will only continue to get stronger and those in the region will be safer as a result.
“As an ambitious Service, not only will we help those in our own communities, but also help others where we can.
“Anyone in the fire service is part of the international family and we will do what we can to help.”
CFO Mick Crennell was joined on the visit by Watch Manager and GAFSIP Trustee Paul Kirk, Firefighter Ben Coghlan, Firefighter Rob Morgan, Firefighter Pete Ballard and Watch Manager Steve McGreavy.
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer of The Gambia Fire Rescue Service, Lamin Sanyang expressed gratitude on behalf of the service for the assistance stating that the partnership is strong and continues to grow.
‘’We receive training manuals, practical training, and equipment. It is because of this partnership that we were able to get fully equipped fire engines as we cannot buy it ourselves. We are very proud of them.
“With this donation, we will operate as far as Wuli in the Upper River Region. We have never thought that we will reach that place and save lives across the country.”
The presentation ceremony took place at the State House in Banjul in the presence of the President of Gambia, the UK High Commissioner to The Gambia, H.E. Sharon Wardle, and other senior government officials, including the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of The Gambian Fire Service, Lamin Sanyang.
For more on GAFSIP, visit http://gafsip.org/.
