Ferrexpo’s volunteer fire brigade: Heroes ready to save lives

Last year, Belanovo Mining and Processing Plant (BGOK), part of Ferrexpo Group, set up a voluntary fire brigade. The newly created voluntary fire brigade united 12 volunteers from the company’s production units. These people are ready to leave their jobs at any time to come to the aid of the residents of Bondari, Ostaptsi, Vasylenky, Nova Haleshchyna, Kremenchuk district, becoming a true embodiment of the Ukrainian spirit.

According to the State Emergency Service, Ukraine lacks more than 1,000 fire and rescue units to provide voluntary and local fire protection. In rural areas, about 40,000 fires occur annually, and the average arrival time of professional units to remote settlements is more than 45 minutes. In such circumstances, the country desperately needs people with a caring heart who are ready to contribute to the safety of the community, especially in times of war.

In 2023, a team of volunteers from Belanovo GOK started being on duty to respond to emergencies and fires at the plant. In the same year, they were included in the SES plan to engage civil defense forces and means to respond to emergencies in neighboring communities.

«We quickly found people willing to join the team,» says Yuriy Khymych, CEO of the enterprise, «and it was especially nice that there were women among them.

The company has purchased a modern fire truck on a MAN chassis that transports 5 tons of water, 400 liters of foam and other firefighting equipment. Special attention was paid to training: first, training at the SES, then an internship at a certified emergency rescue service at Ferrexpo’s Yeristovo GOK, and finally, independent training to hone skills and response speed. Now the team’s response time is 10 minutes for the plant’s production facilities and less than 20 minutes for the surrounding communities.

«For me, as the head of an educational institution, safety is paramount. We are confident that Belanovo GOK, having such a fire brigade, will always come to the rescue. And they do it at the call of their hearts,» comments Viktor Kirichenko, director of Novogaleshchino Lyceum.

The volunteer team of Belanovo GOK was the first among its sister companies in the industry. The project was a challenge for the team, but the result was worth it.

Ilya Makarov, a power engineer in the quarry and team leader during emergency response, said: «We are a team. Both in our main job and as part of a volunteer fire brigade. Of course, we worry, but we trust each other and, thanks to the reliable shoulder of a colleague, we confidently overcome the danger.»

The lack of professional rescuers in Ukraine during the war is not surprising: they save people during shelling, fires as a result of air attacks, and some are mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces. However, it is important to know that even in the most developed countries, most of the rescue work is done by volunteers. In the United States, for example, they make up more than 70% of all rescuers, and in small communities this figure reaches 99.5%. Even Presidents Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington were volunteer firefighters.

Andriy Lepis, chief of guard at the 17th State Fire and Rescue Unit, emphasizes:

«It is extremely important for us, professional firefighters, that Belanovo GOK has a volunteer fire brigade that can come to the aid of the State Emergency Service units at any time.»