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No: 40764 Contributor: CraigW Year: 2017 Manufacturers: Iveco, Mercedes-Benz Country: United Kingdom
Iveco TRV Scarborough North Yorkshire Fire RS
The rather controversial three man crewed Tactical Response Vehicles (TRV) that have replaced one of the full size pumps at six of the larger North Yorkshire fire stations. They don't appear to carry a ladder. Scarborough 13/09/17.
The rather controversial three man crewed Tactical Response Vehicles (TRV) that have replaced one of the full size pumps at six of the larger North Yorkshire fire stations. They don't appear to carry a ladder. Scarborough 13/09/17.
I agree they are not that small they weigh in at 10tes. Controversial part of course is the three man crewing. If you google North Yorkshire Fire TRV you will find a lot of info.
Added by CraigW on 11 October 2017.
Added by CraigW on 11 October 2017.
Craig: Thanks, I have now looked at the site.
What is so obvious is that these units are being introduced simply to be a vehicle to reduce manning levels - and provide less adequate fire cover.
The whole point of a light pumper with rescue and minor alarm equipment (and a three person crew) is NOT to reduce fire cover, but to IMPROVE it - by leaving enough personnel available at each station to deal with a serious incident, rather than tying up a large crew at a minor incident, thereby making a slower first response from a more remote station necessary..
If you start out, as in Marseilles, with a nine man pump crew as the norm, then dropping off two or three members to man a light minor alarm truck does not destroy that station's ability to respond to a more serious situation.
But if you have three on an FRV and four on a pump, then that pump crew will be hard pressed if they have to start to tackle a structure fire without the FRV team.
As for the service actually saying the FRV's job will include to call for help and "prepare" for the arrival of reinforcements, you don't need three fully trained firefighters to do that!
Some French SDIS simply have one or two firefighters load whatever equipment seems likely to be needed on to a small van and head off to minor alarms with this, for floods, lock-ins/outs, lifts, minor traffic accidents, non-urgent medical situations, funny smells, problems with animals, snakes or insects, etc , and a skid mounted self contained CAFS tank and reel for car fires. The Italian Vigili do the same, often using a Land-Rover, although they do not seem to have heard of CAFS yet.
The German approach is usually quite similar. Hamburg, for example, has one or two rescue pumpers, an aerial and a minor alarm truck at each station. Manned by sixteen personnel, this is the standard first response to a structure fire.
If the FRV is dropped off, because it is busy, then the response is beefed up by the FRV from a second responding station, but in this case it is the least important unit with the smallest crew that gets to the scene last...
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 October 2017.
What is so obvious is that these units are being introduced simply to be a vehicle to reduce manning levels - and provide less adequate fire cover.
The whole point of a light pumper with rescue and minor alarm equipment (and a three person crew) is NOT to reduce fire cover, but to IMPROVE it - by leaving enough personnel available at each station to deal with a serious incident, rather than tying up a large crew at a minor incident, thereby making a slower first response from a more remote station necessary..
If you start out, as in Marseilles, with a nine man pump crew as the norm, then dropping off two or three members to man a light minor alarm truck does not destroy that station's ability to respond to a more serious situation.
But if you have three on an FRV and four on a pump, then that pump crew will be hard pressed if they have to start to tackle a structure fire without the FRV team.
As for the service actually saying the FRV's job will include to call for help and "prepare" for the arrival of reinforcements, you don't need three fully trained firefighters to do that!
Some French SDIS simply have one or two firefighters load whatever equipment seems likely to be needed on to a small van and head off to minor alarms with this, for floods, lock-ins/outs, lifts, minor traffic accidents, non-urgent medical situations, funny smells, problems with animals, snakes or insects, etc , and a skid mounted self contained CAFS tank and reel for car fires. The Italian Vigili do the same, often using a Land-Rover, although they do not seem to have heard of CAFS yet.
The German approach is usually quite similar. Hamburg, for example, has one or two rescue pumpers, an aerial and a minor alarm truck at each station. Manned by sixteen personnel, this is the standard first response to a structure fire.
If the FRV is dropped off, because it is busy, then the response is beefed up by the FRV from a second responding station, but in this case it is the least important unit with the smallest crew that gets to the scene last...
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 October 2017.
It's interesting that at four stations the TRV is full time crewed and the full size pump is retained. So the TRV will be the main response vehicle. Suppose the thing is cutting 48 men is a big wage saving and many UK brigades are between a rock and a hard place money wise.
Added by CraigW on 13 October 2017.
Added by CraigW on 13 October 2017.
Craig:
I understand that UK fire services are in a cost squeeze, and looking for ways to manage to cope as creatively as possible.
But there is an obvious answer!
Every other country in the World makes use of unpaid volunteer firefighters, even in some of the largest cities like Tokyo and New York City, as well as in smaller communities and medium sized towns like Scarborough.
Hanau, in Germany, with just under 100, 000 people, has six all-volunteer fire stations operating twelve pumps, rescue pumps and water tenders, three aerials and three rescue trucks - all staffed exclusively by volunteer personnel. They also have several pod carriers and special purpose pods.
If you save forty eight full time firefighter's payroll and benefits, then it does mean you can provide much higher levels of response - especially important in case of a serious incident.
My former home fire department on Long Island New York was also entirely volunteer. They covered an area with half the population of Scarborough with five fire stations, operating 11 pumpers, three aerials, two heavy rescues and three ambulances, responding to 1200 fire calls and 700 EMS calls a year. Each station was home to around fifty volunteers with the requirement that each member had to respond to a minimum of 25% of all call-outs.
During working hours, the dispatchers called out only one unit from each station on the first alarm, to ensure no equipment was waiting an undue length of time for a full complement of riders.
When my own house was on fire one weekday morning, the first unit was on scene within seven minutes, and water flowing in another three, which seemed like a decent response to me...
The full attendance included two more pumpers, an aerial and a heavy rescue as well as three chiefs, although none of these were fortunately really needed, as the first due pumper crew knocked the fire down very quickly. I did not actually count the number of firefighters in attendance, but it must have been around twenty five or thirty...
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 October 2017.
I understand that UK fire services are in a cost squeeze, and looking for ways to manage to cope as creatively as possible.
But there is an obvious answer!
Every other country in the World makes use of unpaid volunteer firefighters, even in some of the largest cities like Tokyo and New York City, as well as in smaller communities and medium sized towns like Scarborough.
Hanau, in Germany, with just under 100, 000 people, has six all-volunteer fire stations operating twelve pumps, rescue pumps and water tenders, three aerials and three rescue trucks - all staffed exclusively by volunteer personnel. They also have several pod carriers and special purpose pods.
If you save forty eight full time firefighter's payroll and benefits, then it does mean you can provide much higher levels of response - especially important in case of a serious incident.
My former home fire department on Long Island New York was also entirely volunteer. They covered an area with half the population of Scarborough with five fire stations, operating 11 pumpers, three aerials, two heavy rescues and three ambulances, responding to 1200 fire calls and 700 EMS calls a year. Each station was home to around fifty volunteers with the requirement that each member had to respond to a minimum of 25% of all call-outs.
During working hours, the dispatchers called out only one unit from each station on the first alarm, to ensure no equipment was waiting an undue length of time for a full complement of riders.
When my own house was on fire one weekday morning, the first unit was on scene within seven minutes, and water flowing in another three, which seemed like a decent response to me...
The full attendance included two more pumpers, an aerial and a heavy rescue as well as three chiefs, although none of these were fortunately really needed, as the first due pumper crew knocked the fire down very quickly. I did not actually count the number of firefighters in attendance, but it must have been around twenty five or thirty...
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 October 2017.
Some small French towns have a three person full time watch. As all French SDIS combine fire and EMS, they normally man the ambulance. But when a fire call comes in, they man the pump or pump-tanker, although they wait for enough volunteers to arrive so that it can turn out with a full crew of six. The next volunteers to arrive man the second pump - and others remain at the station to man the ambulance in case it gets a call or is needed at the incident.
For a minor alarm, the full time watch respond with their equivalent of a TRV (or a light utility van) - and only enough volunteers are called out to provide EMS coverage on the ambulance. The rest are of course still on call if a fire alarm or RTA call is received.
Stations like this usually have a water tender, a brush pumper, an ambulance and a TRV or utility van - and are staffed by a dozen full time and around twenty volunteer firefighters. They typically cover an area with 6, 000 to 17, 000 population. About half of them also have either an aerial and/or a dedicated rescue truck, too....
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 October 2017.
For a minor alarm, the full time watch respond with their equivalent of a TRV (or a light utility van) - and only enough volunteers are called out to provide EMS coverage on the ambulance. The rest are of course still on call if a fire alarm or RTA call is received.
Stations like this usually have a water tender, a brush pumper, an ambulance and a TRV or utility van - and are staffed by a dozen full time and around twenty volunteer firefighters. They typically cover an area with 6, 000 to 17, 000 population. About half of them also have either an aerial and/or a dedicated rescue truck, too....
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 October 2017.
I have just read on the FBU website these are now going to be manned by a crew of four. Perhaps they will get a ladder next!
Added by John Humphreys on 13 October 2017.
Added by John Humphreys on 13 October 2017.
Comment removed at request of Commentor
Andy:
Thanks for this. I completely agree with your point about the comparative numbers of full time personnel on watch in large towns like Newport or Fort Wayne, and this is equally true in cities in places such as France and Germany too. Heidelberg, where I once studied, with 147, 000 population has around twenty five full time firefighters on watch
at any time, but they are supported by over 400 volunteers operating out of eight additional fire stations! Together, they crew no less than 22 pumpers, three aerials and 16 various rescue and special purpose units
In addition, I would point out that even outside large urban areas most countries have far more fire stations than in the UK. A major reason is that most of these smaller stations are either a combination of paid plus volunteer or entirely unpaid volunteer, so there is little or zero payroll cost...
Most British fire services seem to spend around 55% to 70% of their annual budget on payroll and related expenses. If some staffing was supported by unpaid volunteers, fire cover could be actually improved at the same time as lowering total costs.
I know that since WWII there has been no tradition of unpaid fire service volunteers in the UK, but if the service is being squeezed so severely, then it seems the time has come.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
Thanks for this. I completely agree with your point about the comparative numbers of full time personnel on watch in large towns like Newport or Fort Wayne, and this is equally true in cities in places such as France and Germany too. Heidelberg, where I once studied, with 147, 000 population has around twenty five full time firefighters on watch
at any time, but they are supported by over 400 volunteers operating out of eight additional fire stations! Together, they crew no less than 22 pumpers, three aerials and 16 various rescue and special purpose units
In addition, I would point out that even outside large urban areas most countries have far more fire stations than in the UK. A major reason is that most of these smaller stations are either a combination of paid plus volunteer or entirely unpaid volunteer, so there is little or zero payroll cost...
Most British fire services seem to spend around 55% to 70% of their annual budget on payroll and related expenses. If some staffing was supported by unpaid volunteers, fire cover could be actually improved at the same time as lowering total costs.
I know that since WWII there has been no tradition of unpaid fire service volunteers in the UK, but if the service is being squeezed so severely, then it seems the time has come.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
Comment removed at request of Commentor
Andy:
British people seem to have been able to demonstrate a willingness to volunteer in many other areas over the years, and I don't believe it is the only country in the World where recruiting volunteer firefighters would be impossible.
After all, you do not need very many people. 400 out of a population of 147, 000 is not a big percentage!
Another commonplace practice - especially in the USA - is a protocol to recall off duty paid firefighters to man reserve equipment on second or multiple alarms. At any time, around 80% of the full time force are off duty - an instantly available fully trained resource that is there when it is really needed!
I take your point about EMS, but when you figure out the staffing and the ratio of EMS units with small crews to fire and rescue units with four to six person crews, the numbers who man the fire trucks are still much higher. And, as it turns out, Heidelberg does not operate that city's EMS units, so that comparison is balanced out.
It is only too clear that the UK is already operating its fire service "on the cheap". Without using volunteers and/or a formal recall system, it can only get worse, and increasingly dangerous for both members of the public and the service themselves.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
British people seem to have been able to demonstrate a willingness to volunteer in many other areas over the years, and I don't believe it is the only country in the World where recruiting volunteer firefighters would be impossible.
After all, you do not need very many people. 400 out of a population of 147, 000 is not a big percentage!
Another commonplace practice - especially in the USA - is a protocol to recall off duty paid firefighters to man reserve equipment on second or multiple alarms. At any time, around 80% of the full time force are off duty - an instantly available fully trained resource that is there when it is really needed!
I take your point about EMS, but when you figure out the staffing and the ratio of EMS units with small crews to fire and rescue units with four to six person crews, the numbers who man the fire trucks are still much higher. And, as it turns out, Heidelberg does not operate that city's EMS units, so that comparison is balanced out.
It is only too clear that the UK is already operating its fire service "on the cheap". Without using volunteers and/or a formal recall system, it can only get worse, and increasingly dangerous for both members of the public and the service themselves.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
I had no idea that the use of volunteer firefighters was so extensive abroad. I have always regarded the retained duty system as great value for money. As a failed applicant to Scottish service it was clear that they are expected to meet all the standards of career firefighters and commit to extensive training over and above daily work rewarded by the extra earnings. Perhaps it says something about the British mindset that even RDS stations struggle for recruits.
Where would the volunteers come from?
Added by M G on 19 October 2017.
Where would the volunteers come from?
Added by M G on 19 October 2017.
Andy:
I take your point about the fact that many US and European fire services operate EMS units. So I looked at uniformed staffing levels for London Fire Brigade and FDNY. Both serve cities with 8.8 and 8.6 million citizens respectively. Although FDNY operate the city's EMS units, they have a separate organization with 4, 414 personnel. The uniformed firefighting staff - who do not man ambulances - number 11, 050, or one for every 778 citizens. London employs 5, 992 - equal to one for each 1, 468 people, which is around half as many! This enormous difference is clearly reflected in the much larger numbers of fire stations, pumpers, aerials and other apparatus which are manned and ready to respond around the clock.
In Chicago, where I live now, the watch comprises around 1, 000 members, but over 800 of them are riding fire trucks - nearly 100 pumpers and 50 aerials, as well as chiefs' cars and specials. Compare this to Greater Manchester, with half as many pumps and a handful of aerials.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
I take your point about the fact that many US and European fire services operate EMS units. So I looked at uniformed staffing levels for London Fire Brigade and FDNY. Both serve cities with 8.8 and 8.6 million citizens respectively. Although FDNY operate the city's EMS units, they have a separate organization with 4, 414 personnel. The uniformed firefighting staff - who do not man ambulances - number 11, 050, or one for every 778 citizens. London employs 5, 992 - equal to one for each 1, 468 people, which is around half as many! This enormous difference is clearly reflected in the much larger numbers of fire stations, pumpers, aerials and other apparatus which are manned and ready to respond around the clock.
In Chicago, where I live now, the watch comprises around 1, 000 members, but over 800 of them are riding fire trucks - nearly 100 pumpers and 50 aerials, as well as chiefs' cars and specials. Compare this to Greater Manchester, with half as many pumps and a handful of aerials.
Added by Rob Johnson on 19 October 2017.
It's not only the public that hold such an opinion but often their employers, the local council. Then there is the union who would like to see retained crews replace by whole timers.
Added by Neal Glover on 19 October 2017.
Added by Neal Glover on 19 October 2017.
Neal:
I sincerely hope that the awful recent events in London might help bring local authorities heads out of the sand. Unfortunately, it seems that throughout history that big steps to improve fire protection only ever follow disasters like this one.
I do understand the FBU's attitude, which is of course not new.
But under-manning is a safety issue for their members, as well as the public. The Grenfell Tower is an example. Four pumps, no aerial or rescue, no senior officer on the first alarm. Only around twenty firefighters. This is half of the standard hi-rise fire response in New York or Chicago!
If the FBU want to help their membership, why not encourage a recall system - so that off-duty firefighters can respond in the same way as retained firefighters and be paid to do so?
Many American cities operate this way, requiring their full-time members to reside near enough their base fire station to respond within around 15 minutes. This does not increase the numbers who can respond quickly enough on a first alarm, but it does mean that when things get busy an entire fleet of reserve equipment can be already crewed and ready to roll.
There are even cases where one department will have on-duty full-time, recalled off-duty full time, paid on-call and additional volunteers, plus some younger retired full-timers also on call.
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 October 2017.
I sincerely hope that the awful recent events in London might help bring local authorities heads out of the sand. Unfortunately, it seems that throughout history that big steps to improve fire protection only ever follow disasters like this one.
I do understand the FBU's attitude, which is of course not new.
But under-manning is a safety issue for their members, as well as the public. The Grenfell Tower is an example. Four pumps, no aerial or rescue, no senior officer on the first alarm. Only around twenty firefighters. This is half of the standard hi-rise fire response in New York or Chicago!
If the FBU want to help their membership, why not encourage a recall system - so that off-duty firefighters can respond in the same way as retained firefighters and be paid to do so?
Many American cities operate this way, requiring their full-time members to reside near enough their base fire station to respond within around 15 minutes. This does not increase the numbers who can respond quickly enough on a first alarm, but it does mean that when things get busy an entire fleet of reserve equipment can be already crewed and ready to roll.
There are even cases where one department will have on-duty full-time, recalled off-duty full time, paid on-call and additional volunteers, plus some younger retired full-timers also on call.
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 October 2017.
MG:
The UK is indeed the only country I know about which employs barely any unpaid fire service volunteer personnel.
I have looked at the percentage of firefighters in various countries who are volunteer. According to my sources, some of the numbers are as follows:
Germany 97%
Slovenia 87%
Japan 84%
France 84%
Norway 81%
Netherlands 75%
Belgium 71%
United States 69%
Hungary 43%
Israel 25%
In all cases, these countries have far more firefighting personnel resources than the UK on a per capita basis.
For example France, with almost exactly the same population, has 5.9 times as many firefighters.
Adjusted for population, the US has 5.3 times as many and Germany has more than 20 times as many!
Added by Rob Johnson on 24 October 2017.
The UK is indeed the only country I know about which employs barely any unpaid fire service volunteer personnel.
I have looked at the percentage of firefighters in various countries who are volunteer. According to my sources, some of the numbers are as follows:
Germany 97%
Slovenia 87%
Japan 84%
France 84%
Norway 81%
Netherlands 75%
Belgium 71%
United States 69%
Hungary 43%
Israel 25%
In all cases, these countries have far more firefighting personnel resources than the UK on a per capita basis.
For example France, with almost exactly the same population, has 5.9 times as many firefighters.
Adjusted for population, the US has 5.3 times as many and Germany has more than 20 times as many!
Added by Rob Johnson on 24 October 2017.
As far as I know though unlike the ambulance service none of the UK fire services are struggling to meet demand.
Added by CraigW on 24 October 2017.
Added by CraigW on 24 October 2017.
Craig:
I suggest you read some of their annual reports, which detail the cost cutting which they have been doing, as well as the future cost reductions they are having to make, often referred to in their strategy and forward planning commentaries.
The infamous Bain Report set the stage for all of this, and - to my amazement - this very detailed study with all its recommendations for the future shrinking of the British fire service did not even look at any overseas fire service for any kind of input!
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 October 2017.
I suggest you read some of their annual reports, which detail the cost cutting which they have been doing, as well as the future cost reductions they are having to make, often referred to in their strategy and forward planning commentaries.
The infamous Bain Report set the stage for all of this, and - to my amazement - this very detailed study with all its recommendations for the future shrinking of the British fire service did not even look at any overseas fire service for any kind of input!
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 October 2017.
In the BBC news today a report that changes are afoot in Scotland regarding poss station closures and replacing whole time with retained in urban locations to get away from a model first based on 1947. Along with developing towards medical services too. I repeat again where will they come from?
Added by M G on 25 October 2017.
Added by M G on 25 October 2017.
MG: If other countries are looked at, the short answer is that firefighting volunteers come from just about everywhere in society!
Young, old, students, workers, professionals, self-employed, male, female, housewives, clergy, tradespeople, business owners, educators, ex-military, retired people - just name it!
Some very successful recruiting is through youth programs, which are very commonplace especially in France and Germany. Young people can join at fourteen, and actually start training and then attending calls after they become eighteen.
In some countries, military pensioners - who can be as young as twenty-six - are also a major source of personnel, and in commuter suburbs an increasing number are stay at home mothers.
Some US departments have no upper age limits, and a few very fit seventy year old's still respond to alarms!
Added by Rob Johnson on 26 October 2017.
Young, old, students, workers, professionals, self-employed, male, female, housewives, clergy, tradespeople, business owners, educators, ex-military, retired people - just name it!
Some very successful recruiting is through youth programs, which are very commonplace especially in France and Germany. Young people can join at fourteen, and actually start training and then attending calls after they become eighteen.
In some countries, military pensioners - who can be as young as twenty-six - are also a major source of personnel, and in commuter suburbs an increasing number are stay at home mothers.
Some US departments have no upper age limits, and a few very fit seventy year old's still respond to alarms!
Added by Rob Johnson on 26 October 2017.
That's interesting.
Do these countries have similar medical and fitness standards as operated here in UK?
Added by M G on 27 October 2017.
Do these countries have similar medical and fitness standards as operated here in UK?
Added by M G on 27 October 2017.
I admit that I have little knowledge of the operations of the fire and rescue service. But when you consider the way the service is provided in other countries perhaps then some carefully considered modifications could be made, with reference to variable and mixed crewing of different types of vehicles to meet the ever broadening array of incidents to attend. If it was in the name of modernisation rather than financial pushing. Perhaps interesting times ahead in Scotland.
Added by M G on 03 November 2017.
Added by M G on 03 November 2017.
I think having more volunteer firefighters in the UK is a pipe dream. It's a sad reflection on the state of this country. The only reason today's volunteer stations exist at all is through absolute necessity. And the local heroes that perform this most valuable of service are, first-and-foremost, friends and neighbours. Close-knit communities that know and respect one another. Very little community spirit exists in the rest of the UK. People can live next door to someone for years and not ever get to know their names! They'll never even speak. They might grunt or nod if they're unfortunate to bump into one another as they set off on their miserable morning commutes. But rush into a burning house to rescue them! You're joking, aren't you? Only if their own property is at risk, maybe! But to do it for NO MONEY????? For some bloke around the corner? Him with the noisy motorbike? You can sod that for a game of soldiers!
Unfortunately that's the attitude of the vast majority of British people. They won't do anything unless someone's paying them. Sad times. On the rare occasion when somebody does do something amazing, it's so rare it often makes the news! There is no community in Britain. You only have to look at the anti-social epidemic that blights our lives: litter, graffiti, vandalism etc. If you pick up some selfish lazy litterbug's latest cast-off and put it in the bin, passers-by look at you as though you've gone mental!
A hundred years ago, then yes -- it's conceivable that every fire engine in the country would be manned by volunteers. They'd have probably had to turn folk away! But in a 21st century Britain? Forget; it ain't gonna happen.....
Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 09 February 2018.
Unfortunately that's the attitude of the vast majority of British people. They won't do anything unless someone's paying them. Sad times. On the rare occasion when somebody does do something amazing, it's so rare it often makes the news! There is no community in Britain. You only have to look at the anti-social epidemic that blights our lives: litter, graffiti, vandalism etc. If you pick up some selfish lazy litterbug's latest cast-off and put it in the bin, passers-by look at you as though you've gone mental!
A hundred years ago, then yes -- it's conceivable that every fire engine in the country would be manned by volunteers. They'd have probably had to turn folk away! But in a 21st century Britain? Forget; it ain't gonna happen.....
Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 09 February 2018.
Yelp: Of course I think you may be right. It is after all forty years since I left Britain to live in the USA, and obviously many things have changed.
But I do hope you are not. Just about every other country has lots of volunteers, and some - including Chile - are 100% unpaid volunteer. These include everyone in all the large cities, not least Santiago, with over five million people.
So its not only a local community phenomenon - its a big city thing, too!
The key is, I think, that membership of a volunteer fire company is highly respected and socially prized, so as a result people actually go on waiting lists to join...
This is also true where I used to live on Long Island, New York. Nassau County is just East of New York City and is densely populated, with 1.4 million inhabitants. We had over 190 volunteer fire companies, and only one had a full time duty watch at one of their stations. In my town, young lads lined up to join, and many served alongside their brothers, cousins, fathers or uncles...
When my own house got on fire, they were quick and efficient, led by an experienced volunteer Deputy Chief, who got there first, and knew exactly what needed to get done. His lads followed his lead to the letter and together they did a good job.
In another case, a restaurant caught on fire in the night near our lake house in Indiana, and the local volunteers were doing very well until a nearby town's full-time "professionals" turned up.
These guys used their aerial to cut a huge roof vent well away from the actual fire, actually shut down the hydrant the volunteers were already using for their interior attack, and subsequently lost the building as the fire was left to simply spread along it to the unnecessary roof vent!
Even New York City has volunteer fire companies on the barrier islands in Queens where FDNY cannot respond quickly, and other major world cities like Tokyo and Berlin have huge numbers of volunteers too.
One thing to bear in mind is that you do not need huge numbers to provide a good first response or timely backup service. Our local companies required that every volunteer had to respond to at least 25% of all calls. So, if you want to man two pumps with a total of ten riders, you need to have around forty on call. If you are getting half a dozen calls a day per 100, 000 population - which is the UK average - you can have a station for every 15, 000 to 20, 000 people, and you only need around one in 200 of the adult population to volunteer...
I sincerely think the UK may have no choice but to go in this direction, because the current paid organizations are under continuing and increasing cost pressure, and are actually not providing very good value for money by international standards.
When over 70% to 80% of a fire service under immense cost pressure typically goes to payroll, it has to be time to re-think how the job gets done...
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 February 2018.
But I do hope you are not. Just about every other country has lots of volunteers, and some - including Chile - are 100% unpaid volunteer. These include everyone in all the large cities, not least Santiago, with over five million people.
So its not only a local community phenomenon - its a big city thing, too!
The key is, I think, that membership of a volunteer fire company is highly respected and socially prized, so as a result people actually go on waiting lists to join...
This is also true where I used to live on Long Island, New York. Nassau County is just East of New York City and is densely populated, with 1.4 million inhabitants. We had over 190 volunteer fire companies, and only one had a full time duty watch at one of their stations. In my town, young lads lined up to join, and many served alongside their brothers, cousins, fathers or uncles...
When my own house got on fire, they were quick and efficient, led by an experienced volunteer Deputy Chief, who got there first, and knew exactly what needed to get done. His lads followed his lead to the letter and together they did a good job.
In another case, a restaurant caught on fire in the night near our lake house in Indiana, and the local volunteers were doing very well until a nearby town's full-time "professionals" turned up.
These guys used their aerial to cut a huge roof vent well away from the actual fire, actually shut down the hydrant the volunteers were already using for their interior attack, and subsequently lost the building as the fire was left to simply spread along it to the unnecessary roof vent!
Even New York City has volunteer fire companies on the barrier islands in Queens where FDNY cannot respond quickly, and other major world cities like Tokyo and Berlin have huge numbers of volunteers too.
One thing to bear in mind is that you do not need huge numbers to provide a good first response or timely backup service. Our local companies required that every volunteer had to respond to at least 25% of all calls. So, if you want to man two pumps with a total of ten riders, you need to have around forty on call. If you are getting half a dozen calls a day per 100, 000 population - which is the UK average - you can have a station for every 15, 000 to 20, 000 people, and you only need around one in 200 of the adult population to volunteer...
I sincerely think the UK may have no choice but to go in this direction, because the current paid organizations are under continuing and increasing cost pressure, and are actually not providing very good value for money by international standards.
When over 70% to 80% of a fire service under immense cost pressure typically goes to payroll, it has to be time to re-think how the job gets done...
Added by Rob Johnson on 13 February 2018.
I know our local village station has had a number of applicants turned down (including me ) for different reasons.
As the role of a firefighter further develops away from fire towards EMS and prevention and others then perhaps a one size fits all standard restricts the employment pool.
Added by MG on 14 February 2018.
As the role of a firefighter further develops away from fire towards EMS and prevention and others then perhaps a one size fits all standard restricts the employment pool.
Added by MG on 14 February 2018.
MG - True, if that's the way its done!
But in Germany, for example, specialist roles are very often assigned to individual volunteer fire companies in each town or city. One may be the hazmat team, another have water supply relaying equipment, another handle water rescue and the dive team, a different one looking after line rescue, another collapse rescue, a sixth specializing in nuclear incident response, a seventh running the heavy crane and its tender, another handling bulk foam incidents, and so forth. These specialized functions are, of course, in addition to the basic job of firefighting, rescue and general service call response, using standard pumpers, aerials, rescues and tankers.
But in Germany, volunteer fire fighters rarely respond to EMS incidents. There are enough EMS units - provided on both a volunteer and paid professional basis - to cover the need.
However in France, volunteer firefighters who are EMT qualified regularly do man ambulances as well, and many US fire departments also do this. My local volunteer fire department on Long Island did around 700 ambulance runs last year with an ambulance at three of its five fire stations, as well as some 1, 200 fire and rescue shouts. Their role is to support the front line EMS, which is provided by the county police department - so they are called out mainly when the police ambulances are too busy to respond within the prescribed ten minutes.
You don't need every volunteer firefighter to be a qualified EMT or paramedic to be able to man a single ambulance, and of course one solution is to recruit some volunteers who are already qualified!
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 February 2018.
But in Germany, for example, specialist roles are very often assigned to individual volunteer fire companies in each town or city. One may be the hazmat team, another have water supply relaying equipment, another handle water rescue and the dive team, a different one looking after line rescue, another collapse rescue, a sixth specializing in nuclear incident response, a seventh running the heavy crane and its tender, another handling bulk foam incidents, and so forth. These specialized functions are, of course, in addition to the basic job of firefighting, rescue and general service call response, using standard pumpers, aerials, rescues and tankers.
But in Germany, volunteer fire fighters rarely respond to EMS incidents. There are enough EMS units - provided on both a volunteer and paid professional basis - to cover the need.
However in France, volunteer firefighters who are EMT qualified regularly do man ambulances as well, and many US fire departments also do this. My local volunteer fire department on Long Island did around 700 ambulance runs last year with an ambulance at three of its five fire stations, as well as some 1, 200 fire and rescue shouts. Their role is to support the front line EMS, which is provided by the county police department - so they are called out mainly when the police ambulances are too busy to respond within the prescribed ten minutes.
You don't need every volunteer firefighter to be a qualified EMT or paramedic to be able to man a single ambulance, and of course one solution is to recruit some volunteers who are already qualified!
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 February 2018.
I was sceptical of how a volunteer crewed fire service could work.
But in the UK we already have an almost entire volunteer emergency service- the RNLI
A very successful organisation with minimal wage bill!!!!
Added by MG on 08 March 2018.
But in the UK we already have an almost entire volunteer emergency service- the RNLI
A very successful organisation with minimal wage bill!!!!
Added by MG on 08 March 2018.
Despite having 75% of their fire service staffed by unpaid volunteers, the French fire service as a whole still spends 82% of their budget on payroll.
Just imagine how much more their service would cost if they had to pay them!
And over two thirds of all calls were attended by volunteer crews, indicating that - although less busy than the full time personnel - these are a vital and irreplaceable resource...
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 March 2018.
Just imagine how much more their service would cost if they had to pay them!
And over two thirds of all calls were attended by volunteer crews, indicating that - although less busy than the full time personnel - these are a vital and irreplaceable resource...
Added by Rob Johnson on 11 March 2018.
Although the news is a little old now, the TRV's based at Day Crewed Stations in North Yorkshire (Tadcaster, Northallerton, Malton and Ripon) are to have their crew size increased to four firefighters by April 2018.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42351006
The two TRV's based at Scarborough and Harrogate will remain with 3 crew as there is also a wholetime full sized Rescue Pump at these stations to back up the TRV.
It was also in the news that the TRV's are to be adapted to carry a longer ladder on the roof.
There is also a rumour that in the fullness of time the TRV's may be cascaded to certain Retained Crewed Fire Stations where crewing is 'difficult' and the full sized Rescue Pump is often 'off the run' as a full crew is not available. The TRV being able to respond with fewer retained fire fighters pending back up from other fire stations.
Added by Pete S on 18 March 2018.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42351006
The two TRV's based at Scarborough and Harrogate will remain with 3 crew as there is also a wholetime full sized Rescue Pump at these stations to back up the TRV.
It was also in the news that the TRV's are to be adapted to carry a longer ladder on the roof.
There is also a rumour that in the fullness of time the TRV's may be cascaded to certain Retained Crewed Fire Stations where crewing is 'difficult' and the full sized Rescue Pump is often 'off the run' as a full crew is not available. The TRV being able to respond with fewer retained fire fighters pending back up from other fire stations.
Added by Pete S on 18 March 2018.
A brief update and correction. The Israeli Fire Protectorate has approximately 62% unpaid volunteers among its 5000 uniformed personnel.
Added by Rob Johnson on 28 September 2018.
Added by Rob Johnson on 28 September 2018.
At the time of writing the North Yorkshire, TRV's have been withdrawn due to safety issues, breakdowns and poor road holding when being driven at speed.
Added by Andy Reece on 19 January 2019.
Added by Andy Reece on 19 January 2019.
Iveco trucks are not famous for reliability. It was one of the brands my company marketed in the Middle East when I worked in Kuwait, and we sold a fleet of tankers to the KFP, which were too unreliable for fire service use and were quickly replaced by other makes.
They are however usually cheaper than Benz, MAN or Scania.
Added by Rob Johnson on 22 January 2019.
They are however usually cheaper than Benz, MAN or Scania.
Added by Rob Johnson on 22 January 2019.
I hope the brigade admits yet again they have wasted the taxpayer's money and by having these not only have they put the taxpayers lives at risk but also the crews.
Added by John Johnstone on 25 January 2019.
Added by John Johnstone on 25 January 2019.
John:
Totally agree!
As I have mentioned above and on this site, every other country in Europe and the Americas, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others provide much more personnel and equipment to respond to fires and other emergencies than fire brigades in the UK - and at less cost.
Less payroll - or zero payroll - means more can be spent on appliances, fire stations and equipment.
Just compare the fire service's coverage in Hanau which I explained above to any city of 100, 000 population in the UK, and it is obvious that German citizens get much more for their tax payments!
Added by Rob Johnson on 30 January 2019.
Totally agree!
As I have mentioned above and on this site, every other country in Europe and the Americas, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others provide much more personnel and equipment to respond to fires and other emergencies than fire brigades in the UK - and at less cost.
Less payroll - or zero payroll - means more can be spent on appliances, fire stations and equipment.
Just compare the fire service's coverage in Hanau which I explained above to any city of 100, 000 population in the UK, and it is obvious that German citizens get much more for their tax payments!
Added by Rob Johnson on 30 January 2019.
I take it these TRV's are still 'off the run' as Northallerton's Day Crew are currently trucking around in a clapped out 53 Reg (2003) Volvo which looks to have seen better days?
Plus doesn't a full size pump need 4 firefighters to operate it as opposed to a crew of 2 or 3 on a TRV? Where are the extra crewmembers coming from?
Makes you wonder why they bothered getting the TRV's in the first place. What a waste of council tax payers money.
Added by Richard Pettinger on 15 March 2019.
Plus doesn't a full size pump need 4 firefighters to operate it as opposed to a crew of 2 or 3 on a TRV? Where are the extra crewmembers coming from?
Makes you wonder why they bothered getting the TRV's in the first place. What a waste of council tax payers money.
Added by Richard Pettinger on 15 March 2019.
The latest on these TRV's is that other than the ones at Harrogate and Scarborough (which are wholetime also with a full size pump available 24/7) the remaining four are to be re-deployed to 'On-call' (Retained) stations where NYFRS have struggled to staff a full sized pump.
The retained stations are not named in the report from the Fire Commissioner as yet though, but they will replace the full sized pump at these stations and be available to deploy to a limited range of incidents with a crew of three.
The TRV's are also being fitted with a 9m ladder.
www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/fire-oversight/operational_update_trv/
Added by Pete Smith on 19 November 2019.
The retained stations are not named in the report from the Fire Commissioner as yet though, but they will replace the full sized pump at these stations and be available to deploy to a limited range of incidents with a crew of three.
The TRV's are also being fitted with a 9m ladder.
www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/fire-oversight/operational_update_trv/
Added by Pete Smith on 19 November 2019.
Just a further update on the North Yorkshire TRV's.
They have now been fitted with a 9m ladder.
Of the six, two are 'on the run' at Harrogate and Scarborough, where they can be backed up by a wholetime full sized Rescue Pump 24/7.
The other four TRV's are replacing the retained crewed full sized Rescue Pumps at Helmsley, Masham, Sherburn and Summerbridge.
This is so they can respond with a crew of three firefighters (instead of 4/5) but the range of incidents they can respond to has been cut accordingly.
Obviously there are concerns about delays in responding to the incidents the TRV's cannot be deployed to in the above areas.
Added by Pete Smith on 16 January 2020.
They have now been fitted with a 9m ladder.
Of the six, two are 'on the run' at Harrogate and Scarborough, where they can be backed up by a wholetime full sized Rescue Pump 24/7.
The other four TRV's are replacing the retained crewed full sized Rescue Pumps at Helmsley, Masham, Sherburn and Summerbridge.
This is so they can respond with a crew of three firefighters (instead of 4/5) but the range of incidents they can respond to has been cut accordingly.
Obviously there are concerns about delays in responding to the incidents the TRV's cannot be deployed to in the above areas.
Added by Pete Smith on 16 January 2020.
The main problem is that any structure fire of any magnitude requires that the personnel involved inside the premises must wear breathing apparatus, and for both practical and safety reasons no-one can operate alone.
In addition, safety protocols in every country require that for each pair of firefighters inside a burning building, there is another pair outside to intervene if one of those inside is injured or in trouble. The sole exception is in cases where there is a clear requirement to rescue a fire victim inside the structure.
What this means is that a three person crew is NOT going to be able to safely tackle a structure fire by going into the building until a reinforcing unit arrives at the incident - with obvious consequences!
If these units with crews of three share quarters with a four or five manned pump, it is less of a problem, but as a stand alone solution they are nonsense.
British fire services seem to get away with sending limited numbers of pumps, specials and personnel to most fires compared with other countries, with many sending between 12 and 16 firefighters to any reported structure fire, but this is getting ridiculous!
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 January 2020.
In addition, safety protocols in every country require that for each pair of firefighters inside a burning building, there is another pair outside to intervene if one of those inside is injured or in trouble. The sole exception is in cases where there is a clear requirement to rescue a fire victim inside the structure.
What this means is that a three person crew is NOT going to be able to safely tackle a structure fire by going into the building until a reinforcing unit arrives at the incident - with obvious consequences!
If these units with crews of three share quarters with a four or five manned pump, it is less of a problem, but as a stand alone solution they are nonsense.
British fire services seem to get away with sending limited numbers of pumps, specials and personnel to most fires compared with other countries, with many sending between 12 and 16 firefighters to any reported structure fire, but this is getting ridiculous!
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 January 2020.
I have to wonder if the population of these towns which will have to rely on three-man TRVs for first fire response knew this was their level of initial fire cover - would unpaid volunteers come out of the woodwork to make up the numbers?
There are volunteer-manned RNLI stations on the Yorkshire coast, so there are still people who will volunteer if they see the need...
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 January 2020.
There are volunteer-manned RNLI stations on the Yorkshire coast, so there are still people who will volunteer if they see the need...
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 January 2020.
Well, the latest on these North Yorkshire TRV’s is that the new Police, Crime & Fire Commissioner wants to replace the two TRV’s at the wholetime stations (Scarborough and Harrogate) with full size rescue pumps. Yay! But not quite ‘yay’! The rescue pumps replacing the TRV’s will not be staffed 24hours. They will be staffed ‘peak hours only’. So that will leave Scarborough and Harrogate (currently wholetime with one TRV, one RP and one cross staffed ALP) with only one rescue pump manned 24 hours. Overnight back up having to come from from the retained stations.
Heaven help Scarborough who’s closest retained back up (Sherburn) only has a TRV anyway. Filey being the nearest full sized retained appliance. God only knows who will staff the ALP’s at Scarborough and Harrogate during the night! Huntington (York) will also lose its wholetime RP and only have the retained RP. In effect a net cut of a third of the wholetime cover in York. Of course, this isn’t done to save money according to the Commissioner!
www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/rrm/
Added by Pete Smith on 16 July 2022.
Heaven help Scarborough who’s closest retained back up (Sherburn) only has a TRV anyway. Filey being the nearest full sized retained appliance. God only knows who will staff the ALP’s at Scarborough and Harrogate during the night! Huntington (York) will also lose its wholetime RP and only have the retained RP. In effect a net cut of a third of the wholetime cover in York. Of course, this isn’t done to save money according to the Commissioner!
www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/rrm/
Added by Pete Smith on 16 July 2022.
According to their Annual Report, NYFRS spends (a typical) 70% of their annual budget on payroll and benefits, so the only meaningful place they can cut costs is by reducing paid payroll. I wonder what would happen if the people in these small towns were actually told what their level of fire and rescue protection actually is. If practically every other country's experience is anything to go by, I expect enough citizens would be delighted to serve as volunteers - so that a rescue pump with a full crew of well trained and enthusiastic volunteers could be a practical real world solution. NYFRS need to make it clear to everyone in these towns and villages that they need citizens to make it possible - and without their participation a disaster is just waiting to happen...
Ed: the other option of course is properly funded public services.
Added by Rob Johnson on 17 July 2022.
Ed: the other option of course is properly funded public services.
Added by Rob Johnson on 17 July 2022.
Agreed!
The big BUT is that funding full time (or even on call) paid firefighters in small communities with few calls is very expensive. So expensive in fact that I have never seen an example of any country anywhere which can afford this!
In the UK the extreme example is of course in Scotland, but even in very rural areas of Yorkshire and the West Country there are a handful of volunteer stations.
My opinion is that - as funding for fire services continues to shrink in the future - the only solution will be to increase the numbers of volunteers. This is not necessarily going to be a bad thing, as almost every other country in the world has fire services which operate with between 50% and 97% volunteers, including all of the most affluent ones.
Added by Rob Johnson on 18 July 2022.
The big BUT is that funding full time (or even on call) paid firefighters in small communities with few calls is very expensive. So expensive in fact that I have never seen an example of any country anywhere which can afford this!
In the UK the extreme example is of course in Scotland, but even in very rural areas of Yorkshire and the West Country there are a handful of volunteer stations.
My opinion is that - as funding for fire services continues to shrink in the future - the only solution will be to increase the numbers of volunteers. This is not necessarily going to be a bad thing, as almost every other country in the world has fire services which operate with between 50% and 97% volunteers, including all of the most affluent ones.
Added by Rob Johnson on 18 July 2022.
Think we may be seeing the results of cuts with the current unprecedented UK heatwave.
Added by CraigW on 19 July 2022.
Added by CraigW on 19 July 2022.
I agree re volunteers.
Although North Yorkshire is one of the few UK brigades to have volunteer fire fighters (Goathland & Lofthouse), they do not seem to want to expend the volunteer stations, preferring to recruit retained ‘on call’ firefighters.
I am sure volunteers could supplement the reducing number of wholetime pumps at less cost than retained system but there must be some reason North Yorks do not want to go down this route.
When you look at the Incident Log yesterday for North Yorks:
www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/incident/2022-07-20-incident-summary-day-night-shift-19th-july-2022/
They were really stretched with a 9 pump fire and a couple of five pump fires, with various other calls simultaneously. Infact according to local radio, they had to declare the county a ‘major incident’.
www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/major-incident-declared/
With the distances involved in North Yorkshire (it being the largest county in England), it is worrying how low the fire cover is before the cuts I mentioned in my post above.
Added by Pete Smith on 20 July 2022.
Although North Yorkshire is one of the few UK brigades to have volunteer fire fighters (Goathland & Lofthouse), they do not seem to want to expend the volunteer stations, preferring to recruit retained ‘on call’ firefighters.
I am sure volunteers could supplement the reducing number of wholetime pumps at less cost than retained system but there must be some reason North Yorks do not want to go down this route.
When you look at the Incident Log yesterday for North Yorks:
www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/incident/2022-07-20-incident-summary-day-night-shift-19th-july-2022/
They were really stretched with a 9 pump fire and a couple of five pump fires, with various other calls simultaneously. Infact according to local radio, they had to declare the county a ‘major incident’.
www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/major-incident-declared/
With the distances involved in North Yorkshire (it being the largest county in England), it is worrying how low the fire cover is before the cuts I mentioned in my post above.
Added by Pete Smith on 20 July 2022.
Pete:
Years ago the British Fire Brigade Union nixed the idea of adding any more unpaid volunteers, presumably because this would tend to reduce their bargaining power when it came to full time and/or on call paid members. I don't know of this has changed, but in other countries it is not a problem, and paid members work alongside unpaid volunteers all over the World - even sitting next to each other on responding trucks in many situations...
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 July 2022.
Years ago the British Fire Brigade Union nixed the idea of adding any more unpaid volunteers, presumably because this would tend to reduce their bargaining power when it came to full time and/or on call paid members. I don't know of this has changed, but in other countries it is not a problem, and paid members work alongside unpaid volunteers all over the World - even sitting next to each other on responding trucks in many situations...
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 July 2022.
Craig:
There are press reports that London Fire Brigade had ZERO available pumps for several hours on the recent day when numerous grass fires turned into multiple structure fires.
Although the brigade usually has around 150 pumps available with 4 to 6 person crews, there is no provision for ANY backup once this resource is fully committed.
Cities in other countries have either a supporting network of fire stations staffed by on call volunteers, with their own equipment, or a recall protocol for off duty full time personnel to staff reserve units - or sometimes both!
How long will it take to learn that there are proven ways of providing fire cover in depth for those rare instances when it is needed?
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 July 2022.
There are press reports that London Fire Brigade had ZERO available pumps for several hours on the recent day when numerous grass fires turned into multiple structure fires.
Although the brigade usually has around 150 pumps available with 4 to 6 person crews, there is no provision for ANY backup once this resource is fully committed.
Cities in other countries have either a supporting network of fire stations staffed by on call volunteers, with their own equipment, or a recall protocol for off duty full time personnel to staff reserve units - or sometimes both!
How long will it take to learn that there are proven ways of providing fire cover in depth for those rare instances when it is needed?
Added by Rob Johnson on 20 July 2022.
Pete: Just to illustrate that recruiting unpaid volunteers in UK cities with full time personnel would have no effect on full time firefighter compensation, I compared average full time firefighter pay in London (no volunteers) with Berlin (hundreds of volunteers).
They are almost identical. The Berlin firefighters earn around 39,000 Euros while London firefighter earn an average of 38,000 pounds. Taking into account the much higher cost of living in London, they are not dramatically different.
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 July 2022.
They are almost identical. The Berlin firefighters earn around 39,000 Euros while London firefighter earn an average of 38,000 pounds. Taking into account the much higher cost of living in London, they are not dramatically different.
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 July 2022.
If a volunteer fire service to BACK UP existing resources was started I think it would be manned quite easily PROVIDED the stringent medical fitness requirements for UK retained/full time fire fighters was reduced. UK with its ageing population has a massive amount of early retired over 50s who I am sure would provide a good resource as well as younger people who may not be 100% on fitness.
Added by CraigW on 26 July 2022.
Added by CraigW on 26 July 2022.
Just to underline the fact that the presence of unpaid firefighter volunteers does not compromise full time firefighter compensation I compared full time firefighters’ pay with average local pay in both London and Berlin. The London firefighter - where there are no volunteers - earns 71% of the average wage in London. The Berlin counterpart, where there are 84 volunteer fire stations and 35 full time paid ones, earns 78%!
Added by Rob Johnson on 27 July 2022.
Added by Rob Johnson on 27 July 2022.
Craig The physical fitness requirements for UK firefighters are not all that strenuous especially compared to some countries, the most extreme example being Paris. At the start of each watch, every firefighter (including female) has to do ten chin lifts in full kit with BA, or they have to go home! I mentioned in this commentary how many volunteers other countries have. Although health, age and other entrance requirements are quite varied, the fact remains that as a percentage of the population you don’t need a huge number of people.
And over fifties can be very healthy and active. I know quite a few!
Added by Rob Johnson on 27 July 2022.
And over fifties can be very healthy and active. I know quite a few!
Added by Rob Johnson on 27 July 2022.
I like to add another major global city into discussion-Hong Kong, population of 7.4 million souls. The service currently have 6,600 fireman/Officers, EMS is provided by 2300 ambulanceman, although fireman also attend EMS call too if they are closer, all fireman are full time, salary starts at 2200 GBP per month, lower than UK and New York through married quarters is available at around 12 years service, all staff are full time, reserved (retained) brigade was closed in 1970's.
To attend a residential high rise call, usually, a major pump, hydraulic platform (both Type B size), light rescue unit (no water but with FireExpress)(Benz 815D, MAN TGL) and turntable ladder, if multiple calls were received, 2 more pumps/hydraulic platform to help evacuation , more if the building has elderly homes or known risk.
Apart from the urban areas (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Suburban new towns) which is what most people see on TV and postcards, 40% of land area is country park protected by law. Urban stations, usually one Hydraulic platform, Major Pump and Light Rescue Unit, Turntable Ladder-at least 2 each districts, special appliance are distributed throughout the system. There are issues with rural stations that may not busy year round, Peng Chau island, for example, 40 mins ferry from Central, population of 6500, yet have its own hydraulic platform as well as smaller Suzuki Every/Polaris Sportsman with hand held pump that could only travel on maybe 1km of the island's road (carefully!!), a watch of 8 men man those appliance, backup could arrive on the island on high speed police patrol boat within 20 mins, other islands (Lamma, Cheung Chau) has similar population but yet bigger landmass, higher hills. Those stations are usually quite during the week but much busier in weekend with visitors, similar case is some stations in rural New Territories, rural area with low population density but a full stations allocations (at least one Hydraulic Platform+one Light Rescue Unit, expensive, it is. Reserved firefighters (Retained) were considered about 30 years ago, but many of these areas has a highly aging population as most young people moved to the city to work, that make attracting lads at the right age with the right fitness level really difficult
Added by HO PONG LO on 13 November 2022.
To attend a residential high rise call, usually, a major pump, hydraulic platform (both Type B size), light rescue unit (no water but with FireExpress)(Benz 815D, MAN TGL) and turntable ladder, if multiple calls were received, 2 more pumps/hydraulic platform to help evacuation , more if the building has elderly homes or known risk.
Apart from the urban areas (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Suburban new towns) which is what most people see on TV and postcards, 40% of land area is country park protected by law. Urban stations, usually one Hydraulic platform, Major Pump and Light Rescue Unit, Turntable Ladder-at least 2 each districts, special appliance are distributed throughout the system. There are issues with rural stations that may not busy year round, Peng Chau island, for example, 40 mins ferry from Central, population of 6500, yet have its own hydraulic platform as well as smaller Suzuki Every/Polaris Sportsman with hand held pump that could only travel on maybe 1km of the island's road (carefully!!), a watch of 8 men man those appliance, backup could arrive on the island on high speed police patrol boat within 20 mins, other islands (Lamma, Cheung Chau) has similar population but yet bigger landmass, higher hills. Those stations are usually quite during the week but much busier in weekend with visitors, similar case is some stations in rural New Territories, rural area with low population density but a full stations allocations (at least one Hydraulic Platform+one Light Rescue Unit, expensive, it is. Reserved firefighters (Retained) were considered about 30 years ago, but many of these areas has a highly aging population as most young people moved to the city to work, that make attracting lads at the right age with the right fitness level really difficult
Added by HO PONG LO on 13 November 2022.
Iveco
Do we know anything about pump capacity, tank, equipment etc.? It does not seem to look much smaller than a regular rescue pump or water tender.
Three person crew simply means you have to wait for a second unit if you are going to use BA, and BA is pretty much compulsory at any structure fire.
BMPM use smaller Iveco Daily rigs in this role in Marseilles France, also with three man crews. They have one at each station for nuisance fires, automatic alarms and minor service calls, but they are not permitted to respond to structure fires at all, unless they are doubled up and/or responding with a rescue pumper with a six man crew, as well as a two man team on an aerial too. Like most European fire brigades, BMPM respond to structure fires with a minimum of fourteen personnel and often quite a few more...
Added by Rob Johnson on 10 October 2017.