FIRE AID is a UK nonprofit alliance that provides fire and rescue aid and training to countries in need. Formed in 2012, it is chaired by a member of UK Parliament and supported by fire organizations. FIRE AID coordinates donations of equipment and training, provides guidance on sustainable projects, and acts as a forum for discussion. Its goal is to promote effective international fire and rescue humanitarian aid.

1. FIRE AID, a new organisation in the Fire and Rescue community, it is an alliance of UK non
profit organisations and services, with a mutual interest in providing ethical and sustainable
projects and donations of fire and rescue aid and training, to those in need of such
assistance. FIRE AID was formed in 2012 by a group of like-minded non profit organisations
and services, who have been operating for many years, successfully donating equipment,
training and expertise to over 30 countries.
FIREAID Patron is the Rt Hon the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen,
KT, GCMG, FRSA, FRSE, PC , who was tenth Secretary General of NATO, it is chaired by
Jim Fitzpatrick MP, former Fire Service Minister and it is managed by a Steering Committee of
its founding members, it has the support of members of the Fire & Rescue All Party
Parliamentary Group, CFOA and DfID. Among other areas of work, FIRE AID provides
guidance for donation projects, manages an equipment database, and provides a forum for
discussion on issues relevant to FIRE AID.
By kind permission of the Lord Speaker, FIRE AID hosted its launch event at the River Room,
in the House of Lords on 5th June 2014. The reception, which was attended to full capacity,
was hosted by Lord Dubs of Battersea and included representatives from political, diplomatic,
fire and rescue, humanitarian aid and international spheres as well as FIRE AID’s founding
members. Guests included Gus Schaefer and Judith Stone of the Board of Trustees
of Underwriters Laboratories - who work to advance fire safety technology and procedures -
who travelled from the USA to attend the event.
FIRE AID mission is to promote sustainable, targeted and effective Fire & Rescue
humanitarian aid, to gain public recognition for the work being done, both within the UK and
internationally, to work together on joint projects, share experience and provide a forum for
discussion, to act as a communications hub between member organizations, to provide
guidance and support, and promote best practice in sustainable humanitarian projects.
The FIRE AID steering committee members are mainly representatives from the founding
organisations: Bangladesh/England Safety and Fire Education (BESAFE), Blythswood care,
EASST, Fire Safety Friends of Russia, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Operation Florian,
Staffordshire Emergency Services Humanitarian Aid Association, UK Rescue Organisation,
World Rescue Organisation. Recent steering committee members are representatives from
AFSA and CFOA.
FIRE AID is in the process of registering as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to: Enable
fundraising for projects and development, help build membership, including international
members and assist in promoting best practice in projects.

2. FIRE AID supports the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety
and Hyogo Framework for Action for building disaster resilience. FIRE AID members work
helps to save lives in countries facing the greatest challenges.
Global Road Deaths, World Health Organisation figures 2004, total nearly 1.3 million, with 20-
50 million injured. In the ranking of global causes of death, road traffic injuries, ranked 9th, it
is projected by 2030 road traffic injuries will rank 5th in the global causes of death. It is fact that
90% of road deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries that have only
48% of the world's registered vehicles.Typical losses in developing countries are 1-3% GDP –
more than many receive in aid, e.g. each year 100,000 die on India’s roads, and 2 million
people are living with a disability caused by road injury.
Road Death and Development
90% of road deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries that have only
48% of the world's registered vehicles
Many countries suffer from: poor provision of equipment, poor training in rescue and
extraction techniques, weak institutions and local capacity, Lack of coordinated response to
rescue the result of often high fatalities at the crash scene.
The World Health Organisation estimates: 5.8 million die each year from violent injury, about
one in four of these deaths is a road death, About one in seventy are deaths due to fire, 95%
of fire deaths are in low- to middle-income countries and fires are in the top 15 causes of
death for children.

3. Global Map of Road Injuries
Hyogo Framework for Action: Building resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
The Strategic Goals are: The Integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable
development policies, development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and
capacities to build resilience to hazards. The Systematic incorporation of risk reduction
approaches into emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes
The Priorities for action: Identify and monitor risks, ensure risk reduction is a national priority,
build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels and strengthen disaster preparedness
Fire AID members are doing all these things: They undertake scoping visits to assess need
and are working with rescue services to build capacity, they will supply equipment for
emergency response, training, public health also educate and train services in a multi-agency
approach, they are also involved in community engagement and education, building political
will.

4. To this end we have recently returned from Dushanbe in Tajikistan, where as part of a three
person team we undertook a scoping visit for a proposed three year project to be led by
SESHAA and in partnership with FIREAID. The focus was on the Tajikistan response to road
traffic collisions which currently cause 18.3 deaths per 100,000 population – a considerably
high road death rate.
The project outcomes of Phase 2, 2016, will be to supply the Tajikistan Republican Fire
Service with three Fire Engines, two 4x4 rescue vehicles, Ambulance and all the associated
equipment and training to support their Road Safety and Rescue efforts, the foundation of the
project will also be national Road Safety Health and Education.
I am leading and managing this project for SESHAA/FIREAID, the project is aimed at three
year duration, supporting the Fire Service, Police and Ambulance Service in the capital
Dushanbe, and the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. For the Fire Engines and associated
equipment, I am seeking support from the UK Fire Rescue Services, who have always
assisted in the projects; however, I am also seeking the donation of any redundant medical
equipment, i.e. spine boards, head immobilisers, extrication collars etc in relation to casualty
care at the RTC scene for Fire and Rescue Service and Ambulance Service use. The main
problem is managing to get medical equipment of good quality, donated; the equipment will
be at the forefront of the project to establish an RTC rescue capability within the Tajikistan
Republican Fire Service and Ambulance Services. The project is supported by DfID and the
British Ambassador in Tajikistan.
If you could assist by supporting any part of this request for urgently needed medical
equipment, not only the SESHAA and FIREAID members would be grateful, but the donations
will also form the start of a number of RTC rescue vehicles and Ambulances proposed for the
protection of the people in Dushanbe and the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. The medical
equipment donated was taken to Dushanbe and the Khorog (Pamir Mountains) in November
2015, to start phase 1 of the project, phase 2 will be the delivery of the vehicles and
associated equipment in 2016.
A key objective of FIRE AID is to provide a model for ethical and sustainable donations. FIRE
AID members have access to an Aid and International Development Handbook with guidance
and advice on: Project preparation, Funding, Roles and Responsibilities, Communication,
Risk Assessment, Project Delivery, Sustainability and Evaluation. The Handbook conforms to
European Commission (EC) Regulation 1257/96 governing humanitarian aid overseas. FIRE
AID has its own Anti-bribery and Corruption and Ethical Donations policies for all members.
The FIRE AID website www.fire-aid.org has a number of areas of interest, Committee
members pen picture, active projects map, a list of member non profit organisations and
services, Project information, past and present, Project success and failures, Project
documentation, Ethical Donations Policy, Anti Bribery and Corruption Policy, Project Plan,
Business plan, Sustainability Documents, an executive summary of the AID handbook, joining
as a member will provide full access to the document.
There is also a database for appliances and equipment donations and availability, database
access, only members have access to the database. There are a number of categories of
membership that can be offered: FIRE AID Member, Associate Member, Affiliate Member,
Honorary Member, a full description can be found on the website.

5. Membership of FIRE AID is currently free and open to UK-registered charities and non-
profits with the following benefits:
Most specialisations and industries have a collaborative body, which organisations with the
appropriate background, experience or qualifications can join. What can your group gain by
joining FIRE AID? Will it help you’re Projects? Organizational or personal development?
Here are some of the potential benefits that membership can offer.
Professional Recognition: Once you have demonstrated that your non profit organisation or
service has the requisite qualifications, you may join FIRE AID and add the name and logo to
your organisations or services CV and business card. Membership shows that you have
reached a certain level of expertise in your field, gives you more collaborative opportunities
and adds to your credibility.
Fulfilling Corporate & social responsibility: Short-term costs that do not provide an
immediate financial benefit to the service but instead promote positive social and
environmental change, e.g. the re- use of redundant appliances and equipment to areas of
the World in need.
Information and Advice: FIRE AID have a website offering member’s password protected
access to projects, the AID Handbook, news reports, updates, information, vehicles,
equipment, and details of events.
Networking Opportunities: FIRE AID can be useful for making new contacts and learning
more about what’s happening in the AID sector. National exposure and conferences also offer
excellent networking and project collaboration opportunities

6. Career Development: Continuous professional development (CPD) is essential if you want to
forge a successful career. Some FIRE AID Projects may offer personal development
opportunities, which gives added professional credibility.
If you would like to join us, check out the website WWW.fire-aid.org
If you would like to support the organisation by donating medical aid, vehicles or equipment,
please contact Alf Wilson on the contact number or email address below.
Alfred (ALF) Wilson MIFireE MRSPH MinstLM FdM
FIRE AID Steering Group Member
WWW.fire-aid.org
Chairman SESHAA
http://www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/SESHAA.asp
ALFREDWILSON@sky.com
Mobile; 07531093273
.