Thursday 7 May
09.00 hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service is today (Thursday 7 May) pleased
to be welcoming the Shadow Secretary of State for International
Development, Andrew Mitchell MP.
The Minister will be meeting Chief Fire Officer / Chief
Executive Kevin Pearson to hear about the work of the Gambia and Avon Fire Services in
Partnership (GAFSIP) charity.
The charity began in 1991 when Dave Hutchings, a former Chief
Fire Officer at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, was on holiday in
The Gambia. He witnessed a road traffic collision in which two
adults and four children died, because of a lack of rescue
equipment available.
When he returned home he decided to try and make a difference by
raising money to pay for equipment and vehicles no longer being
used in Avon to be shipped to The Gambia.
Since the project began The Gambian Government has built 12 new
fire stations, with each division of the country now having its own
fire and rescue service cover from the capital Banjul to Basse, the
largest populated area. This has led to the creation of around 800
jobs.
During his visit the Minister will watch a short presentation
about the charity and talk to some of the Avon Fire & Rescue
Service staff who have visited The Gambia to deliver training to
firefighters in the African country.
Ends