Fire Engines Photos

Jolimont has five fire stations staffed by close to a hundred volunteers, covering these six communities with a combined population of around 5,000. Each station has a rescue pumper and there are two water tenders, as well as numerous additional special purpose units distributed among the fire fire stations. Like most other European countries, the tradition of all volunteer fire cover in rural areas and small towns results in an exceptional standard of fire cover and equipment, as communities have no payroll expense.

This means that even very small towns and villages like these listed by J-P can have a well equipped and adequately staffed fire station.

Switzerland underlines this organizational solution by offering male citizens the option of volunteering as a firefighter instead of performing military reserve duties, or else paying an extra income tax if they prefer not to either.

I understand there are quite stringent requirements that such volunteers actually always show up on time to incidents.

Added by Rob Johnson on 14 August 2023.

Switzerland the pumpers are called TLF (Tanklöschfahrzeug) or (Auto-Pompe) translated into Pump-Tanker, dedicated mainly to fire calls.
In the rural and smaller cities TLF usually have single cabins to enable more space for equipment. The staff are brough to the scene by transport vans and cars.


Added by Jacques PETER on 15 August 2023.

4 Seats cabin only

Added by Jacques PETER on 15 August 2023.

Yes, this is the Scania low profile two door cab, which is moved further forward of the engine housing than the standard cab, resulting in enough space between the original driver’s seat and front passenger seat for two additional seats. On ladder trucks, with low cab roofs to accommodate the height of the ladder set, this space is a bit too limited to offer enough headroom for extra passengers, but on a unit like this it can fit them in. The Mercedes Econic chassis offers the same arrangements, resulting in some two door Econic rescue tenders with full height cabs having four across seating in the front.

As JP points out, a lot of Swiss fire services have most volunteers report separately to incidents. This is also the practice in many US volunteer departments. But - there is a lot of discussion as to whether this speeds up or actually delays timely responses by sufficient numbers of personnel. One argument is that the one or two crew on the first due unit can be severely overtasked by trying to deal with an incident alone until the arrival of other members, while any members getting there before the appliance can be at a loss when it comes to doing anything very useful.

Added by Rob Johnson on 15 August 2023.

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