The Community Foundation "Podilska Hromada" in collaboration with the Vinnytsia City Council, the Department of Municipal Services, and "Vinnytsiaoblvodokanal" has completed the installation of 13 new fire hydrants manufactured by the Austrian company Hawle. They were installed near schools, kindergartens, hospitals and in areas with high foot traffic as part of the project, which is being implemented by the Community Foundation "Podilska Hromada" with support from the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia, as part of the "A Strong Civil Society in Ukraine — A Driving Force for Reforms and Democracy" project funded by Norway and Sweden.
This is the second batch of aid from the Foundation: in December–January 2024–2025, the community received the first ten fire hydrants, and this year — another 13, which replaced equipment that had reached the end of its service life. In total, over the past two years, the city has received 23 new fire hydrants. All locations have been approved by State Emergency Service specialists.
!In wartime, security issues take on particular importance. Therefore, it is crucial that the city’s infrastructure be prepared for such challenges. If necessary, these hydrants will allow emergency services to ensure rapid access to water, which will help strengthen safety in the community", — says Olena Danilova, director of the Community Foundation.
Ihor Rozborskyi, Deputy Director of the Department of Municipal Services at the Vinnytsia City Council, noted that thanks to cooperation with the Foundation, the State Emergency Service, and "Vinnytsiaoblvodokanal" the city has received a significant boost.
"Equipment wears out over time, and the city needs to replace it regularly. Over the past five years, the community, in close cooperation with these organizations, has replaced about a hundred such hydrants. However, there is still a need to update them, so work in this area will continue", — notes Ihor Rozborskyi.
Fire hydrants are just one component of the project. In addition to infrastructure upgrades 20 public first-aid kits containing emergency medical supplies were installed in public places throughout the city, and Vinnytsia’s homeowners’ associations (OSBBs) that have shelters equipped in accordance with safety criteria received additional resources to maintain these shelters. At the same time, an educational component was underway, during which 36 first-aid training sessions were conducted for employees of educational, cultural, youth, and other institutions.
