Delivery of new fire engines to serve Shropshire
Two fire stations which serve the Shropshire area have just taken delivery of new fire engines.
Crews at Leintwardine and Tenbury Wells have been joined by eight other stations across Herefordshire and Worcestershire in enjoying the benefits of using the latest additions to the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service fleet.
Each fire engine includes a 3,000-litre water tank, increasing the volume by 40 per cent - and the weight of the fully loaded vehicle to 15 tonnes.
The latest cutting gear and radio systems can be found on each vehicle that is also provided with a 3,000-litre dam, to enable water to be stored while more is collected.
Six cameras around each fire engine give 360 degree CCTV, offering benefits for incident review and driver training.
“The new fire engine gives us better and different options,” said Tenbury Station Commander Gareth Clarke.
“For example, because of Tenbury’s position, we often go on calls with crews from Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer from the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service who already have digital radios while we had analogue.
“Our new digital radios will make communicating at the scene of an incident that much easier.
“The crews are delighted with the new fire engine and see it as very positive in terms of investment in the Service.
“It’s all part of modernising and upgrading the Service’s equipment for the benefit of the whole community.”
New Scania appliances have also been deployed at Droitwich, Evesham, Kidderminster, Kingsland, Ledbury, Leominster, Malvern and Ross-on-Wye stations.
Area commander Guy Palmer said: “This £2.5 million investment demonstrates the commitment from the Fire Authority to deliver a first-class service not only to the communities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire but also to empower our staff with the right tools and equipment to be able to do their job.”
