Two decommissioned Jersey fire engines are being donated to Ukraine to help firefighters in the country as the Russian invasion continues.

Six Jersey firefighters are driving them to Poland, where they'll be handed over to authorities for onward deployment to Ukraine. 

They leave today (18 April) for Kent before then driving on to Poland.

Condor has covered the cost of the ferry journey to Portsmouth.

The UK Home Office and the National Fire Chiefs Council asked for any equipment and vehicles that were due to be replaced, decommissioned, or disposed of to be donated to Ukrainian firefighters.

Jersey Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service are also donating items like protective clothing and medical supplies.

Firefighter Richard Wilson led work to donate the fire engines.

"We’ve recently invested in new fire appliances for SJFRS, so I approached the senior leadership team to see if the two older appliances might be available for donation to Fire Aid, the charity organising help for Ukrainian firefighters. 

It was quickly agreed that we could donate the vehicles, and work started to get them ready for the journey to Poland, where they will be handed over to authorities who will arrange the onward deployment into Ukraine."

Children from the firefighters' families have also donated soft toys to travel with the fire engines for the children of Ukraine.

Luke Burton, Matt Coote, John Richardson, Richard Wilson, Brian Brown, and Graham Stokes are the firefighters driving the engines to Poland.

"The commitment and offers of support from our firefighters to assist in this initiative has been outstanding and we are pleased to do anything we can to help Ukraine's firefighters during this very difficult time.

I'm proud that SJFRS has donated two fire engines and a considerable amount of end-of-life equipment, with six of our firefighters driving over to Europe to deliver it." - Paul Brown, Chief Fire Officer.