Recently I received a message from one of the Fire Chief’s in an area where we serve. The Fire Department had responded to the scene of a vehicle accident. It was a terrible accident scene with entrapment and the Fire Chief told me that they were unable to rescue a severely injured person. He said – “we weren’t able to save her, not because we did not have the knowledge, but because we did not have the equipment and the closest station with equipment was more than an hour and a half away – it was traumatic to have the skills and not be able to save her because we did not have the equipment.”
AFM’s mission to Train, Empower, Support and Encourage firefighters in developing communities continues. Training is part of our work. Advocating with firefighters in developing communities to procure appropriate equipment is a part or the mission. And providing appropriate equipment is part of that mission. Right now, AFM is in the process of preparing several shipments of equipment to Africa and Ukraine to help to meet the need for equipment.
We regularly collect Personal Protecting Equipment from Fire Departments across the United States. Now we need your help to provide specialty equipment. Some of these items are special to the fire department, others are equipment that can be available in many places.
Here is a list of equipment we are currently looking for shipments this spring and summer:
· Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment
· ARFF – Personal Protective Equipment
· Wildland Fire – Personal Protective Equipment
· Flashlights
· Incident Tents
· Generators - power from 40 to 100 kW.
· Smoke Extrication Fans
· Rescue Tripods
· Hand Winches
· Chainsaws
· Scene Lighting
· Axes
· Ceiling Hooks
· Halligan Bars
· Bolt Cutters
· Forcible Entry Tools
· Other Firefighter Hand Tools
· Wildland Firefighting Hand Tools
· Vehicle Extrication Tools
· Thermal Imaging Cameras
· Water Rescue Equipment:
o Life Jackets
o Life Preservers
o Wetsuits
If you are able to provide any of this equipment please complete this form and we will be in touch with you to determine the best way to get it to our storage locations in Cincinnati, OH or Prince George’s County, MD.
