Volunteer firefighters from across Poland receive support from KGHM

Safety and cooperation - the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation is announcing a competition for financial support for Volunteer Fire Brigades across the country. The units have a chance of receiving funding to purchase fire rescue or medical equipment. The programme is worth PLN 5 million.

Donations from the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation will be awarded to the best projects involving the purchase of equipment necessary for firefighting and rescue operations. The equipment will help prevent and eliminate the effects of natural disasters, extreme weather conditions or technical failures. All to strengthen the safety of the country's inhabitants.

- Volunteer Fire Brigades are an extremely important component of our country's security system. Volunteer firefighters are always present wherever help is needed. KGHM has been supporting Volunteer Fire Brigades throughout the country for many years. Today we would like to announce the launch of a new KGHM Foundation programme for Voluntary Fire Brigades, worth PLN 5 million. I would like to thank President Tomasz Zdzikot for this important initiative - said Jacek Sasin, Minister of State Assets, during the launch.

- The specific nature of work at KGHM makes us appreciate in a special way the importance of all institutions guarding safety and intervening in emergency situations. Hence, on the one hand, we are continuously developing our Mine-Smelter Rescue Unit, which is one of the best in the world, and, on the other hand, we have been involved for years in supporting, among others, Volunteer Fire Brigades. The programme we are initiating today is an extension of our long-term cooperation and our contribution to strengthening the national rescue and firefighting system - said Tomasz Zdzikot, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

- I would like to thank you for these funds. This is money which will go towards safety. These are funds which will allow us to have tools to save the lives and health of those who are injured," said Paweł Hreniak, member of the Polish parliament, chairman of the parliamentary subcommittee for the development and promotion of volunteer firefighters.

"The KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation for VFBs"

The purpose of the KGHM competition is primarily to increase the effectiveness of rescue and firefighting operations and to ensure the safety of the country's inhabitants. The KGHM Foundation is also keen to increase the effectiveness of operations carried out by Volunteer Fire Brigades units with various formations.

The Voluntary Fire Brigade units which enter the competition can use the donations they receive, among other things, to purchase technical, water, medical, high altitude, search and rescue equipment or protective equipment for firefighters. The competition will be decided in September. Rules and details can be found at www.fundacjakghm.pl.

20 years of the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation

With a view to good and safety, the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation is involved in numerous projects and activities related to rescue, civil protection and public safety. Funds are mostly spent on the purchase of modern rescue and fire-fighting equipment and specialist vehicles for emergency and rescue services, including fire and police units. In 2022 alone, the Foundation made 43 financial donations to fire brigades totalling almost PLN 2 million.

Voluntary fire brigade units and the State Fire Service received donations for, among other things, the purchase of rescue and fire-fighting vehicles, specialist equipment or uniforms. Among other things, the Głogów municipality subsidised the purchase of a 4x4 medium firefighting and rescue vehicle for the Serby Volunteer Fire Brigade, while VFB Rzeszotary (in Lower Silesia) was supplied with specialist rescue equipment: hydraulic shears, a column spreader, an arm spreader, and hydraulic pumps with hoses. In the last 20 years (2003-2023), the total amount of donations from the KGHM Foundation to VFB and SFS exceeded PLN 8.5 million.

Rescue at the highest level

Safety of employees is an absolute priority for the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., and the rescuers and firefighters of KGHM's Emergency Rescue Unit are among the best in the world. Their professionalism and skills have been recognised on numerous occasions. At the recent International Rescue Squad Competition (2022), KGHM's mine rescuers took third place in one of the competitions, receiving a bronze medal.