Asset Advantage donates fire engine to rural fire station in Croatia

1. Asset Advantage donates fire engine to rural fire station in Croatia that will double as a training facility for retired Ghurkas Firefighters in Croatia are set to receive a brand new fire station and fire engine thanks to a unique partnership between Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, military charity Infrastructure Training and Assistance Projects (ITAP) and asset finance business Asset Advantage. The three organisations have joined forces to ensure that fire crews based in Sveti Durd, in Varazdin County have the equipment and resources they need to continue fighting fires in the 50 small communities they serve in northern Croatia. The area’s current fire engine is a 1980 RS Dennis fire engine which was donated after the Balkans War. The ‘new’ replacement fire engine has been leased by NFRS since 1998 and was one of the Service’s wholetime appliances before moving to a retained station and then into the Service’s reserve fleet. When the lease agreement ended, Asset Advantage kindly agreed to donate the vehicle back to the Service so that it can be taken to Croatia.

2. The fire engine was presented to Frank Swann, Chief Fire Officer at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on 20th March and will be driven to Croatia in April by Watch Managers Kevin Ruane, Grant Smith and Dave Evans and Driver Trainer Andy MacFarlane, who will make the journey in their own time. The cost of getting the fire engine to Croatia is being met by military charity ITAP which is working with Sveti Durd fire service to rebuild their fire station. In return for the charity’s generosity, the four NFRS employees have agreed to help train 30 Gurkha soldiers in firefighting skills, which they will pass on to rural communities in Nepal where they are establishing volunteer fire services. As an asset finance company, Asset Advantage recognises the importance of having the right equipment to do the job – enabling clients to acquire what they need to grow their businesses on a daily basis. So when this opportunity presented itself it was the perfect chance for the company to combine its experience of delivering assets to clients with its commitment to social responsibility. Jonathan Eddy, Managing Director of Asset Advantage, said: “To be able to donate this Fire Engine to help establish a much needed fire station in Varazdin is terrific and something we’re proud of. But for the project to also be training retiring Ghurkas in new skills to enable them to perform a welcome and fitting role on their return to Nepal, adds something really special to this project. We’re happy to play our small part in this marvellous project and applaud the people involved from the army and fire service for their generosity and foresight.”