Hahn placed a handwritten note in a donated boot headed to Ukraine. (photo by Bryan Chan)

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, on March 18 joined Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby to announce the department would send surplus equipment to Ukraine to aid first responders saving lives amid the Russian invasion.

“We have all been inspired by the bravery and fortitude of the Ukrainian people as they have resisted the Russian invasion of their homeland,” said Hahn, the designated supervisor overseeing the fire department. “They have been under attack for three long weeks, and Ukrainian first responders have gone from fighting house fires to rescuing people from rubble from bombed-out buildings. Amid the onslaught, they are running out of supplies.”

The supplies, which included boots, helmets, bulletproof body armor, medicine, medical equipment and personal protective equipment, will be transported by private entity to Poland, and from there, the logistics will be handled to get supplies to firefighters in Ukraine.

“The Los Angeles County Fire Department is stepping up to do what we can to help,” Hahn added. “It is our hope that this equipment will help Ukrainian first responders continue to save lives and help them in some small way to resist the Russian invasion.”