On Tuesday, August 4th, a large explosion struck in Lebanon. The blast took place in the capital city Beirut, within the city’s densely populated central district. The explosion displaced more than 300,000 people from their homes. Over 180 people were killed, including 10 firefighters while they attempted to extinguish the fire that caused the explosion.

The blast caused substantial damage to four of the city’s hospitals as well as the city’s port and main source of imports. This explosion took place during one of the country’s worst financial crises, highlighting Lebanon’s need for protective equipment that they could not otherwise afford.

Thanks to generous donations of high-quality, used bunker gear from fire stations in Ontario, we were able to equip firefighters in Lebanon with 130 bunker suits and 93 helmets. This gear was immediately put into use and was featured in the Daily Mail and Global News as firefighters in Beirut wore the suits while responding to a fuel tank explosion in early October 2020.