Issued on: Tuesday 4 June 2019

Firefighters Gear-Up to Pull Fire Engine for Charity 

This Saturday (8 June) sees new wholetime firefighters from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service take part in a ‘Chief’s Challenge’.  

Newly appointed firefighters will be attempting to pull a fire engine weighing approximately 18-tonnes through Leicester City Centre, not once, not twice but three times!

The challenge will take place in Humberstone Gate at 1pm on Saturday 8 June. The team will then attempt the same challenge again at 2pm and 3pm, with the aim to improve the ‘pull’ each time.

At the beginning of their firefighter training, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Rick Taylor, set a challenge for the new recruits to come up with a charity event. The trainees could choose the event, but they had to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity, who provide care, support and relief for current, retired and past firefighters.

The team are also raising money for the Bodie Hodges Foundation, who support families who have been bereaved of a child of any age and promotes organ donation.

Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Rick Taylor said: “I set the challenge for our newest recruits to raise money for ‘our’ charity; The Fire Fighters Charity. I wanted them to do a challenge that would allow them to grow together, not just as a group but as a team.

“I am really pleased they came up with the idea of the fire engine pull and have also decided to raise money for another fantastic cause.

“Not only will they be tested physically and mentally in doing this challenge, they will also be showing great team work and commitment. I, along with the rest of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service wish them all the best and we hope that the community will come along and show them support.”

Newly appointed wholetime firefighter Jamal Masri, said: “We are currently over half way through our firefighter training and will be joining our stations in July, but this challenge set by the Chief has given us another opportunity to push ourselves and work well as a team.

“We would greatly appreciate any support from our communities – either by coming down and supporting us on Saturday or making a donation to our chosen charities.”

As well as the Chief’s Challenge, there will be plenty of fun things to do with the family including fire engines to look around, prizes to be won and a chance to talk to Fire Cadets and wholetime firefighters.

To find out more about the Chief’s Challenge and to donate, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/FirefightersEnginePull

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Interviews can be arranged through prior arrangement with Corporate Communications on the details below.

About the Service

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by 43 percent. 

During 2016/17, the Service attended 694 road traffic collisions, of which 148 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to ­2,259 fires. 272 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,613 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 145 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project. 

Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 229 2195
corporate.communications@lfrs.org

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