Cuba highlights Russian donation for local firefighters

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 18 (ACN) Cuban Interior Ministry (MININT) highlighted the arrival of a donation of Ural NEXT trucks from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation to the port of Havana.

The solidarity aid was in charge of the International Civil Protection Organization (ICPO), of which Cuba has been a part since 2014, the agency added in its official statement.

It added that the new firefighting vehicles have excellent tactical-technical characteristics for the protection of refineries, airports and other facilities, as they are equipped with water and foam tanks.

Each of the tanks has a capacity of 10 tons of water, with a high pumping capacity and one of the main features is its greater resistance to corrosion, the MININT specified the information.

It pointed out that they will serve in the Fire Brigade, although before that the Cuban forces will receive a detailed training by Russian personnel at the Specialized Teaching Institution Martyrs of Patria Street.

Annually, the Cuban Fire Brigade pays tribute to martyrs of the sector, among them the one of Patria Street, in the Havana municipality of El Cerro, where counterrevolutionaries paid by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency caused in 1962 a fire of great proportions in which two firefighters died.

At the 11th International Congress on Disasters and the 7th International Conference of Firefighters, held earlier this month at the Havana Convention Center, delegates reaffirmed the importance of strengthening collaboration ties.