Watch Commander’s lifelong commitment to fire safety and humanitarian aid in Nepal
John Aitchison has played a pivotal role in enhancing firefighting capabilities in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake through training local responders.
John is an instructor with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service based in the national training centre, specialising in urban search and rescue.
He has provided ongoing support in the South Asia country following the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake.
He is also a dedicated member of UKISAR, the British Government's international search and rescue team.
Since then, Watch Commander Aitchison has made several trips to Nepal. His mission involved training local firefighters, delivering essential equipment, and conducting emergency response courses to enhance local capabilities.
He said: “Many behind-the-scenes work is involved, such as budgets, logistics, risk assessments, meetings, and reports. It’s not just a case of rocking up and training.”
Along with Fire Aid and International Development volunteers, John has trained the British Ghurkhas, Nepal Armed Police Force Municipal Fire Services, and Nepal Rescue Battalion.
In recent years, together with his dedicated team, John has founded Everest Fire and Rescue, the official emergency service of the Everest region of Nepal.
During his four-week period in Nepal from November to December 2024, John trained over 150 new firefighters to improve their skills in handling emergencies, sharing expertise that will have a lasting impact on their communities.
They delivered 3.5 tons of essential medical supplies and search and rescue equipment to several remote villages in the landscapes of the Himalayas. It was all carried by an army of porters up the mountain trail.
John remembered: “Even though using helicopters for transport was an option, I decided early in the planning that we should focus on reducing our carbon footprint. Therefore, walking would be our preferred method of transport.
“We had two experienced doctors and two paramedics on our team. They helped care for our health and safety while working at high altitudes in cold conditions.”
They also reached out to several new villages, including Chukhung, in the south of Mount Everest, which became the highest fire station in the world at an elevation of 4,730 meters.
This initiative not only bolstered the firefighting capabilities of these communities but also provided them with crucial resources for emergency response in this rugged terrain.
I decided early in the planning that we should focus on reducing our carbon footprint. Therefore, walking would be our preferred method of transport.
Looking ahead, he is already planning future initiatives, including high-altitude rescue aid, search operations for missing persons, and wildfire and glacial lake monitoring.
Watch Commander Aitchinson is set to return to Nepal this April to carry out more fire safety training. His visit will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015.
If you would like to support Fire Aid and International Development’s Fire Aid Nepal Project, you can visit the Just Giving page.