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FIREMEN ON STANDBY FOR ARMENIAN RESCUE EFFORT
East Grinstead Courier and Observer, UK
December 25, 2014 Thursday
by Eric Blackmore; [email protected]
CRAWLEY Down fireman Dave Lacey was one of seven from the Surrey
brigade who was preparing to help victims of the Armenian earthquake
in December 1988.
The firemen were on standby, waiting for a Home Office signal that
would send them straight to the heart of the earthquake zone.
Seven firefighters, five vehicles and specialist equipment were packed
and ready to fly to Russia to join a worldwide rescue team.
More than 100,000 Armenians were feared dead and up to two million
homeless following the earthquake, which brought cities tumbling to
the ground.
Dave Lacey, of Brookside, Crawley Down, was one of the firefighters
who had packed his bags and began a phone-side vigil when the Courier
spoke to him at the time.
He said: "It is very difficult to comprehend the scale of the disaster,
even from newspaper and television reports, and there is a certain
amount of trepidation. But I am trained for the job and feel I might
be able to do something useful as part of the team."
The British Government pledged support, to the sum of £5million,
to the emergency operation, and supplies and equipment flown from
Gatwick and Stansted arrived in Moscow in December that year.
Surrey Fire Brigade waited for the order to move from the Home Office,
which acted on the advice of an inspector already in Armenia.
It would take the team just two hours to make final preparations at
Reigate fire station before they were airlifted to the scene when
they were finally called on.
The Courier reported on December 15, 1988, that the firefighters were
using their time, while waiting, to organise special rescue equipment,
such as stretchers designed especially for use in confined spaces,
and equipment to get rescuers under the huge piles of rubble.
Surrey's brigade would also take with them two thermal-imaging cameras
and five specially-equipped long-wheelbase Land Rovers.
The seven experienced firefighters were inoculated against typhoid,
cholera and polio before their departure.
Preparing to head out with Mr Lacey was the team leader, Station
Officer Grey, who was Surrey's training officer for special rescue
operations. Also waiting for the green light were Leading Firefighter
Hawley and Firefighters Day, Lever, Steggles and Coleman.
Mr Lacey added: "My wife wasn't very happy about my volunteering
but I did phone and ask her first. We have three children, but I was
already a fireman when she married me and she accepts that.
"Of course there are risks, but in a way I am a little disappointed
that we haven't gone yet. In Surrey we don't get called upon very
often, and I do think the unit as a whole has got something to offer."
Collections were held at Christmas services in several churches in
East Grinstead to be donated to the Armenia Earthquake Appeal. Schools
were also collecting funds at the end-of-term carol services.
East Grinstead Courier and Observer, UK
December 25, 2014 Thursday
by Eric Blackmore; [email protected]
CRAWLEY Down fireman Dave Lacey was one of seven from the Surrey
brigade who was preparing to help victims of the Armenian earthquake
in December 1988.
The firemen were on standby, waiting for a Home Office signal that
would send them straight to the heart of the earthquake zone.
Seven firefighters, five vehicles and specialist equipment were packed
and ready to fly to Russia to join a worldwide rescue team.
More than 100,000 Armenians were feared dead and up to two million
homeless following the earthquake, which brought cities tumbling to
the ground.
Dave Lacey, of Brookside, Crawley Down, was one of the firefighters
who had packed his bags and began a phone-side vigil when the Courier
spoke to him at the time.
He said: "It is very difficult to comprehend the scale of the disaster,
even from newspaper and television reports, and there is a certain
amount of trepidation. But I am trained for the job and feel I might
be able to do something useful as part of the team."
The British Government pledged support, to the sum of £5million,
to the emergency operation, and supplies and equipment flown from
Gatwick and Stansted arrived in Moscow in December that year.
Surrey Fire Brigade waited for the order to move from the Home Office,
which acted on the advice of an inspector already in Armenia.
It would take the team just two hours to make final preparations at
Reigate fire station before they were airlifted to the scene when
they were finally called on.
The Courier reported on December 15, 1988, that the firefighters were
using their time, while waiting, to organise special rescue equipment,
such as stretchers designed especially for use in confined spaces,
and equipment to get rescuers under the huge piles of rubble.
Surrey's brigade would also take with them two thermal-imaging cameras
and five specially-equipped long-wheelbase Land Rovers.
The seven experienced firefighters were inoculated against typhoid,
cholera and polio before their departure.
Preparing to head out with Mr Lacey was the team leader, Station
Officer Grey, who was Surrey's training officer for special rescue
operations. Also waiting for the green light were Leading Firefighter
Hawley and Firefighters Day, Lever, Steggles and Coleman.
Mr Lacey added: "My wife wasn't very happy about my volunteering
but I did phone and ask her first. We have three children, but I was
already a fireman when she married me and she accepts that.
"Of course there are risks, but in a way I am a little disappointed
that we haven't gone yet. In Surrey we don't get called upon very
often, and I do think the unit as a whole has got something to offer."
Collections were held at Christmas services in several churches in
East Grinstead to be donated to the Armenia Earthquake Appeal. Schools
were also collecting funds at the end-of-term carol services.