Spare kit aids Pakistan fire crews

Twenty surplus full fire kits have been sent from South Yorkshire to Muzaffarabad in Kashmir.

The equipment includes helmets, boots, tunics, trousers and gloves worn by SYFR before their switch to a new all-black outfit.

Finance and resources director Beverley Sandy said: “Firefighters in Kashmir simply don’t have access to the same standards of fire kit as our crews, so this donation will definitely lead to improvements in their safety at incidents.”

Kashmir police and fire chief Khawaja Siddique visited South Yorkshire in December, when the idea of donating the kit was put forward.

The area is prone to landslides and his firefighters are frequently called on to deal with major rescue operations. An earthquake in 2005 killed about 75,000 people.

SYFR director of finance and resources Beverley Sandy, Safer Neighbourhood Officer Shahbaz Ramzan and SYFR stores and logistics team leader Alun Charnock, are pictured with some of the kit bound for Kashmir.