Westport Fire Department recently donated used personal protective equipment such as coats, pants, boots that they can no longer use to Ukraine.

Westport Fire Department recently donated retired turnout gear to firefighters in Ukraine.

The items include coats, pants and boots that can no longer be worn in the United States under guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association but can help protect those in Ukraine from fires due to the ongoing Russian invasion.

“While this donated gear is past its technical expiration date for use here in the states, it is clean, in serviceable condition, and ready to provide protection to our Ukrainian brother and sister firefighters,” according to a statement from the department.

The association requires turnout gear be retired when the garment can’t be repaired and no longer passes a certain test, according to the department.

The donation was organized by Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons, who delivered the fire turnout gear earlier this week for a shipment being sent abroad to the Ukrainian firefighters. He said the firefighter community jumped at the chance to help.

“Firefighters support one another around the county or the world,” Gibbons said. “The men and women of Ukraine fighting fire under war conditions reached out for our support — so we responded. We support them and their fight for freedom.”

Westport resident Mark Yurkiw, who is fluent in Ukrainian, helped out and expedited the communication and logistics necessary to get this gear directly to Ukraine Emergency Services, Chief Michael Kronick said.

A number of fire departments across the U.S. and other countries are also sending donations.

“Imagine trying to put out a fire without the proper fire equipment,” Kronick said. “There are raging fires in cities, forests, and fields from the numerous bombing attacks which the firefighters are working around the clock to put out. We know that our equipment is going to save lives and help the firefighters.”

Katrina Koerting covers the environment, Redding, New Milford and surrounding towns for The News-Times. She joined The News-Times in 2015 after spending a few years as a reporter in Virginia.