Fire Engines Photos

This is a Mercedes Vario eight ton 4X4 with a factory crew cab, probably fitted with a six cylinder 140 or 150 BHP diesel engine, depending when it was built. The Vario was discontinued several years ago, and Mercedes now market the Mtsubshi Fuso Canter instead. But in its day the Vario was very popular with German fire brigades, especially their 2,000 plus volunteer fire companies. It also saw widespread service in Scandinavia, Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and as far afield as Hong Kong.

Pumps, rescues, 18 meter ladders, 1800 liter tankers and a variety of special appliances were built on 2X4 or 4X4 single cab or double cab chassis or converted panel vans. A few were operated in the UK, but this kind of compact pump with its water tank limited to around 1000 liters and restricted locker space was not at all popular when compared to many other countries.

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 August 2020.

Comment removed at request of Commentor

Suppose in a rural location a bigger water tank might be very useful . But I assume these are 7.5te gross which means anyone who passed a car driving test before 1997 can drive them. Which is also useful but will be less so as time marches on !

Added by on 18 August 2020.

Yes, this was one reason they were so popular with volunteer fire companies. The Vario LF8 was operated by almost every volunteer company in Germany, and of course most of them are still in use. Several are illustrated on this site. Another reason was lower cost, and of course the fact that their smaller size meant they were more suitable for use in old urban areas with narrow streets and tight corners.



Added by Rob Johnson on 19 August 2020.

Most LF8s did not in fact have a water tank at all, but many carried a portable pump, so that they could set into any accessible open water source. This 800 LPM portable pump was additional to a front mounted built in pump - also rated at 800 LPM.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 August 2020.

And the countrside with narrow lanes, gates and tight corners!

Added by CraigW on 20 August 2020.

The new replacement is the TSF-W. These are built on slightly smaller MB Sprinter or Iveco five ton chassis or converted vans. They do not have a built in pump, but carry a 1000 LPM portable pump, which is pre-connected to a 500 or 600 liter water tank and a 23mm hose reel. With a five person crew, and often 4X4 drive, they are designed for volunteers to get to work fast and stop minor fires from becoming too serious before full size units with larger crews are able to respond...

Added by Rob Johnson on 21 August 2020.

I’m watch manager at Ambleside and we have the same appliance on station they are powered by a four cylinder 180 bhp diesel and carry 1000l of water and 50l of cafs. They were updated to 8.3 tonnes when built and are on a 4x4 chassis which is a must where we are in the winter. Cumbria have seven of these appliances around the county.

Added by Steve barton on 15 May 2021.

These appliances are 180 bhp 4 cylinder machines. Cumbria has seven of them in rural locations.

Added by Steve Barton on 22 May 2022.

I wonder if you have any comments on the use of CAFS?

It is now very commonly used on all kinds of fires in the US, Germany and the Netherlands, but still not all that popular in the UK….

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 May 2022.

Bootle now have a full size pump with their old Merc going to Barrow retain. Another has been turned into a special of some sort.


Added by Neal Glover on 22 May 2022.

Thanks for info. How do they perform in service?

Added by CraigW on 23 May 2022.

Craig: In Germany - where the population of Varios in fire service fleets is by far the largest - fire brigades are tending to hang on to them and get them refurbished, rather than replacing them. The Mtsubshi Fuso Canter, being marketed by Mercedes as the Vario's replacement, is not yet getting much traction and the Iveco Daily, while popular in France, Italy and Poland, is not very well regarded. This would suggest to me that the Vario is really very highly regarded by most of its users, at least in Germany.

Its limited 1,000 litre tank capacity is less of a problem if the unit has CAFS, as the foam will kill most fires in about 25% to 50% of the time needed using plain water, if it is properly used.

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 May 2022.

All the older Fuso Canters I see here are rotting fast !

Added by CraigW on 24 May 2022.

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