Fire Engines Photos

Fire Engine Photos

No: 13093   Contributor: Mateusz Czajkowski   Year: 2008   Manufacturer: Renault   Country: Poland

Renault prime mover powder/foam pod – Warsaw, PL

Renault prime mover + powder/foam pod – Warsaw, PL

The Warsaw Fire Service is still in possession of 3 1970s powder units (Jelcz 315M with Total Feuerschutz bodywork and powder system, 3000kg each). These are assigned to stations 5, 7 and 11. Even though a large percentage of the powder appliances of the State Fire Service have been written off and replaced by smaller powder units mounted on trailers, pods (e.g. in Konin, Poznań) and standard pumpers or tankers (e.g. in Łódź), Warsaw not only maintains, but also expands its fleet. The 3t powder unit mounted on the new pod was removed from the fourth, oldest Jelcz appliance, which was kept in the backyard of station 7 (without any obvious purpose, neither to be preserved nor written off). After a thorough refurbishment, it was built into a brand-new pod, manufactured by ISS Wawrzaszek, along It is now assigned to Fire and Rescue Unit 17, one of three stations (the others being 2,10). 17 is located in Ursynów, not far from the airport – which not a coincidence, as the powder appliances would play an important support role in case of an air crash. The advantage of having 12 tonnes of powder to douse a blazing fuel lake is certainly worth the money needed to maintain such a fleet.

Pod manufacturer: ISS Wawrzaszek, Poland

Powder unit manufacturer: Total Feuerschutz GmbH, Germany

Powder tank: 3000kg

Water tank: 2000l

Foam concentrate tank: 200l

The pod (container) system of the Polish State Fire Service (SFS, pol. PSP) has both similarities and differences with its British and German equivalents. It was developed for multiple purposes (the doctrine changed over time, too). Pods were supposed to carry specialist equipment which would not be used often enough to require dedicated appliances, but whose instant accessibility and mobility would be vital if disaster struck. The two key areas of the nationwide programme were flood relief and portable facilities for rescue workers in disaster zones. The flood pods came in all shapes and a variety of equipment, including sandbags, portable dams/barriers, boats, high volume pumps, etc. The 'social' element consisted primarily of the so-called 'quatermaster' pods, carrying tents, beds, heaters, power generators and other equipment necessary to provide temporary accommodation for up to 60 rescue workers. Other types included mobile kitchens, lavatories, toilets, water distribution facilities etc. A mass decontamination element was added to the system in the mid-2000s. Many individual SFS units also purchased pods that suited their individual needs: powder, foam, command and communications, etc.

Renault Kerax 8x4 420dCi by ISS Wawrzaszek is the standard prime mover of the SFS today. The earlier type, in service since late 1990s, was made by a Polish company WUKO on a Jelcz 642 chassis. A few Renault Premium, Mercedes Actros and MAN TGA 'container carriers' are also in use.

The pod and prime mover are based atWarsaw's State Fire Service Fire and Rescue Unit 17 (JRG-17) of Ursynów, in the south of the city. The fire station opened in 2004 - it was a totally new unit, whose crew consisted of a mixture of new recruits and experienced firefighters from stations across the capital. Some of the pods and preserved oldies are kept there

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For more pictures from Poland, visit http://www.firerescue.pl/

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Description: K.Nowak/M.Czajkowski