GENERAL INTEREST
Fire officer highly commended
for charity work in Nepal
A Torquay fire officer has been
highly commended at a national
fire service awards ceremony for his
charitable work in Nepal.
of donated fire appliances and
equipment and providing the
training for Nepalese firefighters to
use them effectively.
Station Manager John Monaghan
was nominated in the Positive
Change category of the Asian Fire
Service Association Personal Fair
and Diverse Awards.
The commendation read: ‘This
award has been given to the person
who has over a sustained period
of years carried out exceptional
positive action programmes that
have resulted in positive change.’
John said: “I am very pleased to
receive this commendation. The
conditions for firefighters in Nepal
are very difficult compared to those
in the UK. They are often expected
to fight fires with no protective
equipment at all and no water to
fight the flames.
“They are incredibly brave and
anything we can do to improve
their safety will help them to keep
the communities they serve safer.”
Since 2009, John has been coordinating ongoing support for the
fire service in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The assistance includes the delivery
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Other work carried out during the
visits include fitting a water pump
and repairs to an orphanage,
donations of food, clothes, toys
and bedding, funding for children’s
operations, and educational
support for children leaving the
orphanage.
Since the devastating earthquake
in Nepal in 2015, nearly 2,000
Aqua box safe drinking water kits,
community water pumps and filters,
and protective equipment have
been delivered.
Another visit is scheduled for spring
2016 and future projects could
include funding a combined
school and health facility in two
earthquake-hit areas, expanded
fire-related training and the delivery
of additional fire vehicles and
equipment.