Investing in our fire engines for our communities
We have the largest fleet for a fire and rescue service outside of London, and we are investing in our fire engines to meet the changing risks within all our communities.
This is part of our 10-year fleet replacement programme to ensure we have the most modern equipment and fire engines (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/about-us/fleet-and-equipment) with the latest technology to protect our communities and our firefighters. Our aim is for each station to have the best vehicle(s) to respond to the risks in their area.
When Fire Control receive a call to an incident the nearest fire station does not respond in isolation, as they often work alongside neighbouring fire stations. This ensures all the correct equipment and firefighters arrive at an incident quickly. We routinely review risks across our Service so we can make an informed decision in changing the location of a fire engine based on the whole of the Service and our priorities.
This is matching our resources to the ever-changing risks in our communities. We decide what type of vehicle is needed using risk analysis and our professional knowledge. You can find out more about the risks we face as a Service in our Community Risk Management Plan (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/community-risk-plan). When developing this plan, we consulted with our staff and our communities.
About the new Medium Rescue Pump (MRP)
Our new MRP (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/fleet/medium-rescue-pump) carries the latest equipment, including the latest battery-operated tools. Each vehicle is fitted with a new 52 mm lay flat hose, 70 mm lay flat hose, and 22 mm high-pressure hose reel. These allow us to fight larger fires more effectively, particularly for wind-driven, large fires or basement fires.
For the first time, the MRP is equipped with a full foam system that deals with solid and liquid flammables. Enabling firefighters to put out fires in a variety of ways.
The 4X4 MRP carries the same equipment and provides extra capability during severe weather conditions or assists in locations where a standard two-wheel drive may not be able to access.
About the Light Rescue Pump (LRP)
Our LRPs (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/fleet/light-replacement-pump) are shorter than the MRP by 80cm, lighter, and more agile. So, they are better at responding where road access may be restricted, such as:
• parked vehicles on the road
• streets are narrow
• the destination is in the countryside along narrow roads.
The LRP has the latest battery-operated tools. These include a cutter, spreader, and a ram for Road Traffic Collision (RTC) rescues.
The LRPs also carry a state-of-the-art compressed air foam system and a fog spike. This enables crews to fight the fire from the outside of a building so a property can be saved more effectively, firefighting time is dramatically cut, and firefighters are safer.
About the Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIV)
Our RIVs (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/fleet/rapid-intervention-vehicle) are smaller, more agile vehicles that can access narrower roads and sometimes arrive at incidents quicker than our larger appliances. Anyone familiar with our road network may have seen a lorry or bus trying to manoeuvre through country lanes or congested roads in the summer. Our traditional-sized fire engines have the same issue so we have developed fire engines that also suit our smaller roads.
They carry the latest equipment needed to provide the first response to an incident such as the latest battery-operated tools RTC cutting equipment, and a fog spike. Also breathing apparatus sets, lightweight fire kit, digital radios, and thermal image cameras. All RIVs have a 9m ladder.