UPPER GWYNEDD — Several area fire companies made a big delivery Tuesday to help their counterparts in war-torn Ukraine.
Members of the Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Department and Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale delivered more than 100 sets of firefighting equipment to be sent to Ukraine to help those in need.
“We put it out online, other local departments that are connected to our Facebook saw it, and we have a number of departments that have brought outdated gear, and dropped it off,” said Upper Gwynedd Fire Chief Eric Geiger.
“We put it out (Sunday), we’ve already got things donated, and it’s going down there (Tuesday),” he said.
Donations included turnout gear, boots, helmets, air packs and hand tools, according to Geiger and Assistant Chief Matt O’Brien, and companies that donated included the Upper Merion, Worcester, and Weldon fire companies. O’Brien and Fairmount Chief Gavin Butler each helped deliver a full vehicle of equipment to their counterparts in Clifton, New Jersey to be sent overseas in support of firefighters in Ukraine.
“Standards in the United States are set, and we abide by our standards, but they’re not necessarily the same standards in other counties. And when you don’t have anything, something is better than nothing,” Geiger said.