Twenty-six scouts from Russia got the lowdown on Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service on a visit to fire service HQ in Stone.
The children and teenagers – 26 from Russia and 14 from Eccleshall – tried using hoses, toured fire control, the smoke house and appliances and learned about breathing apparatus and other firefighting equipment at the service’s headquarters at Pirehill, Stone.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Enness and Director of Prevent Dean Stevens welcomed the group and were presented with a firefighter’s helmet and the Siberian Fire Service badge from Sergey Fadeev, scout leader and the Deputy Head of a fire station in Siberia. In exchange, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is to present Mr Fadeev with a Chief Fire Officer’s helmet.
The scouts later participated in the StreetStadia sporting activities including football and team-building games, at Westbridge Park.
Eccleshall firefighter James Ainsworth, who organised the visit, said:”Eccleshall scouts have already visited Siberia where they went to a fire station, and it was great that we were able to provide a similar visit for the Russian scouts on their exchange visit. One of the scout leaders is a firefighter in Siberia so it was very interesting to compare notes.”
The scouts, who are aged between 10 and 18, also attended the International Friendship camp at Kibblestone scout camp at Stone during their visit.
