Ukrainian Families Helped to Stay Safe Thanks to Firefighters in Scarborough

Monday, 24 April 2023 17:30

By Matthew Pells

Over the past couple of months Firefighter Pete Tiffney from Scarborough Fire Station has been working with Ukrainian families promoting the work the service does.

The Ukrainian families have been in Scarborough for about a year, living with their host families with some now looking to move into privately rented accommodation.

During meetings at the Salvation Army Citadel, Firefighter Pete Tiffney has spoken about the importance of home fire safety and road safety.

Throughout this time, Pete has built up great working relationships with the families and is now supporting them in their move to new accommodation. This includes discussing the importance of smoke alarm checks, safe and well visits and the range of safety information we can offer.

Firefighter Pete Tiffney, said:

“It was great to meet with the families, listen to all they continue to go through in life and offer our support as a service within the communities we serve.

“From the opportunity to meet at the Salvation Army with the families and with the help of firefighter Lalan Flynn of Red Watch, I arranged a visit to Scarborough Fire Station on April 14.

“There was a great turn out with around 30 people attending the event. They were shown around the station, equipment capabilities from the fire appliances and the use of the arial ladder platform (ALP).

“The children enjoyed having a go at being a firefighter using the hosereel which resulted in the adults wanting a go too.

Literature in Ukrainian was given out and the families were given an introduction from Lalan into the What3Words location app. We also took the opportunity to discuss recruitment for our on-call fire stations."

Iryna Kutsemakhina said she wanted to pass on all the families sincere thanks and love to all at Scarborough Fire Station for a lovely visit and the important safety information written in the Ukrainian language. Iryna said:

"Diakuu (Thank you) З подякою та любов’ю від українських родин (much love from the Ukraine families)"

Station Manager Graeme Casper, said:

“Once again this is great work by Scarborough Fire Station staff, ensuing the Ukrainian community have a good understanding of home fire safety, enabling them to feel safe and be safe.”