Old fire engine gifted to Croatia

The fire engine has served 15 years in Buckinghamshire.

A fire engine that has been retired from service in Buckinghamshire is to be put on duties in Croatia.

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority agreed to donate the 15-year-old appliance to a crew in the coastal town of Kraljevica.

The fire service there currently responds to emergencies with two vans, one which carries basic equipment, and firefighters in the other.

Four crew from Aylesbury will train their Croatian colleagues to use it.

'Inspected and serviced'

The 1993 Scania P93 water tender has 65,000 miles on the clock and spent most of its working life as a rescue pump at Newport Pagnell Fire Station before moving to Aylesbury Fire Station and then Brill Fire Station, where it was in use until earlier this year.

The crew driving the fire engine will set off on 20 September, and their route will take them through France, Belgium and Germany, where they will stop overnight in Bensheim, Amersham's twin town.

Damian Smith, chief fire officer with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: "Members of our fire and rescue authority are very supportive of any humanitarian work we can do abroad, in addition to providing an emergency fire and rescue service for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

"The vehicle has been inspected and serviced at our workshop ready for its journey to Croatia and stowed with various items of road traffic collision and firefighting equipment."