Volunteers from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service left Germany yesterday (Tuesday, June 4th) after being welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Siegburg on their way to deliver fire trucks to Romania as part of a week long charity aid trip.
Nine volunteers from Shropshire were hosted by Chief Fire Officer Tomas Glatz and his family and colleagues from Siegburg Fire Station.
Thomas has the plaque of the ancient Salop "fire mark" on the front wall of his home in Siegburg. The centuries old fire mark was put onto houses whose occupants had paid insurance to ensure the safety of their home after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Homes not bearing the fire mark were left to burn. The plaque was specially cast in Ironbridge - the birthplace of industry - and presented to Chief Fire Officer Thomas Glatz in recognition of his support for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's numerous aid trips to Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
"It is the sixth time Shropshire firefighters and staff have visited us and we make our fire station their home for the night. They are part of our international firefighting family and we are all helping in Romania," said Thomas, whose fire station takes food, clothes and furniture and has helped to rebuild a Romanian orphanage.
Siegburg Deputy Mayor Dr Susanne Haase-Muhlbauer said: "We welcome Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to Siegburg. We have close links with you and are both working to help in Romania."
Two fire engines and a Land Rover with 500 firefighting uniforms on board are bound for Targu Mures in Romania in a 1,800 mile aid trip. They will be the 13th UK fire appliances to be delivered to needy rural areas in Europe over the past few years by staff from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
