These are used for minor situations and occasional nuisance fires in many countries.
Unlike what seems to be happening with some British fire services, they are NOT meant to replace full size and/or fully equipped and staffed fire engines.
The idea is that you can save wear and tear on front line appliances by sending a van like this to calls which do not need the kit or the personnel who are transported on a pumper.
In addition, by dispatching only two or sometimes three firefighters with this unit, you are not taking a pump crew out of the line - and coverage is only minimally depleted.
Bear in mind that in France most pump crews are still six to eight, as they are in places like Germany and the Netherlands. In addition, most fire stations with units like this have at least two pumps and an aerial, so the watch usually runs around fourteen or more people.
Unlike what seems to be happening with some British fire services, they are NOT meant to replace full size and/or fully equipped and staffed fire engines.
The idea is that you can save wear and tear on front line appliances by sending a van like this to calls which do not need the kit or the personnel who are transported on a pumper.
In addition, by dispatching only two or sometimes three firefighters with this unit, you are not taking a pump crew out of the line - and coverage is only minimally depleted.
Bear in mind that in France most pump crews are still six to eight, as they are in places like Germany and the Netherlands. In addition, most fire stations with units like this have at least two pumps and an aerial, so the watch usually runs around fourteen or more people.
Added by Rob Johnson on 16 May 2018.