Westport Fire Department Donates Used Equipment To Ukraine

The following announcement is from Westport Fire Chief Michael Kronick regarding fire equipment being sent to Ukraine:

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Fire Department donated used personal protective equipment such as coats, pants and boots that they can no longer use to Ukraine. On behalf of the Westport Fire Department, Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons organized the project and delivered the fire turnout gear Tuesday for a shipment being sent abroad to the Ukrainian firefighters.

Gibbons stated, “Firefighters support one another around the county or the world. The men and
women of Ukraine fighting fire under war conditions reached out for our support- so we
responded. We support them and their fight for freedom.”

Chief Michael Kronick stated, “Imagine trying to put out a fire without the proper fire
equipment. There are raging fires in cities, forests, and fields from the numerous bombing
attacks which the firefighters are working around the clock to put out. We know that our
equipment is going to save lives and help the firefighters.” Gibbons also wanted to thank
Westport resident Mark Yurkiw. Yukiw is fluent in Ukrainian and expedited the communication
and logistics necessary to get this gear directly to Ukraine Emergency Services.

The National Fire Protection Association specifies that structural turnout gear shall be retired
when the garment is beyond repair and no longer able to pass the NFPA 1851 test. While this
donated gear is past its technical expiration date for use here in the States, it is clean, in
serviceable condition, and ready to provide protection to our Ukrainian brother and sister
firefighters.