Fire Engines Photos

now also has a landrover

Added by Kev on 09 June 2010.

Seema that the proliferation of rescue pumps in the UK has led to the disappearance of a lot of dedicated rescue trucks. This is also happening now in many - but by no means all - European countries.

London is perhaps the largest exception, still confining the rescue role to a comparatively large fleet of specialist tenders with dedicated specialist crews - a pattern still also to be found in most North American fire departments.

Added by Rob Johnson on 28 July 2014.

Staffordshire still have two rescue tenders which are now designated as heavy rescue tenders. Though I have heard that this number will be reduced to two as soon as the Sabre reaches the end of its life. But before rescue gear was carried on pumps, Staffordshire operated five rescue tenders and two special incident units which also carried rescue gear.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 01 August 2014.

I know Lichfield lost its second pump and gained a TRV. Noticed past week or so behind the trv bay out the back under the canopy a Scania pump parked up in addition to the day crewed Scania and retained trv. Wonder if anyone can shed light on its presence.

Added by Neil on 14 April 2018.

Lichfield has quite often housed a reserve appliance, Neil, so I'm guessing that'll be what it is. Most of Staffordshire's stations have ample room to house spares and reserves these days, what with the cuts! The Scania you saw won't be a new as-yet-unallocated machine as Staffordshire's most recent order is for ten Volvo Rosenbauer AT pumps, due for arrival this spring.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 18 April 2018.

Thanks for the information its older p260 model with 13.5 ladder. I read that staffs is going for Volvos is it all the wholetime day crewed getting them. Whats the spec for them? Bit of a change from Scania's.

Added by Neil on 21 April 2018.

Hi Neil. Staffordshire has eleven Volvo FL/Rosenbauer ATs on order. One each is going to the county's ten wholetime/day-crewed stations and the remaining one is going to training school. I don't know a lot about them, other than they are VERY different to anything Staffordshire has ever had on-the-run before. But apparently they are the future!!!

They are very European and typical of the pumps you see in Germany, and are bursting with advanced technogy as signified by the "AT" in the name of the appliance. Buckinghamshire has some ATs operational, but these are on a M.A.N. chassis; and Greater Manchester has two on a Volvo chassis on order to run as their two Technical Rescue Pumps. Rosenbauer's own website has photos of both. Personally I'm not sure what to make of them yet, as they are so very much a break from the norm that I'm struggling to get my stubborn old, traditionalist's head around it all to be honest! Buckinghamshire's look rather thin and ungainly, but GMFS's look better to me. The AT comes in two different widths and three different heights, and the difference in Buckinghamshire's ATs and those for Manchester is quite noticeable.

But I can't wait to see one in Staffordshire's livery. And to be honest with you anything other than a battenburg-liveried Scania will make a very welcome change....

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 24 April 2018.

Yelp - Rosenbauer is now by far the largest fire engine manufacturer in the World, and in my opinion they did not get there by accident!

From building their first motor fire engine in Austria in 1919, they began exporting in 1926 and by 1976 over half of their production was exported. Now the firm has factories and branches in dozens of countries and sells all kinds of fire appliances in almost every country in the World.

Based on their reputation for quality, design and innovation, I don't think you should worry about these new appliances being fit for purpose.

As you mention, they build for the UK in various versions and will use whatever chassis the buyer wants. What they end up looking like is really a result of the customers' requirements, and they do a great job of tailoring their truck exactly to the customer's requirements - including locker interior design, fittings and the dimensions of everything in them.

Many years ago when I was an industry consultant I tried to interest Dennis in a joint venture with them, but only (I think) two prototypes were built, and Dennis did not want to pursue it any further. This could have changed history!

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 April 2018.

I do quite like the man version bucks have on MAN chassis. It is quite a break staffs has been fairly safe scania turf. Now going to volvos. I look at at a dutch volvo fl by rosenbauer odd looking machine. Used to seeing the big scanias. Suspose it will be different for the crews aswell being handed the keys to it. Rosenbauer gai ing popularity love the lancs fires pair of stingers 5500 lpm pumps and that boom. Smart kit

Added by Neil on 25 April 2018.

Neil:

The "civilian" Stingers are indeed an interesting idea, now that so many industrial and commercial buildings have no windows any more. I wonder if the idea will catch on, or just be an experiment which fails - like so many other "bright ideas".

Many brigades in the UK have started using the Swedish Fognail and/or the Cobra Cold Cutter, both of which do the same job on a smaller scale - and the Cobra in particular can cut through a brick wall in minutes to deliver its high pressure jet inside a building!

But the Stinger is potentially safer, especially if you have to get into a roof void. Perhaps the earliest indication that the day will eventually come when firefighters can do their job without entering a burning structure, unless there is search and rescue on the agenda?

Added by Rob Johnson on 26 April 2018.

Personally I think the piercing lance of the AT Stinger is perhaps its least impressive quality. I saw a video clip on Rosenbauer's Twitter feed showing Lancashire's Stinger working alongside one of their standard ALPs at a factory fire. Both appliances were being used as standard water towers getting as much water onto the collapsed building as possible. And the amount the Stinger was getting down was breathtaking compared to the ALP. The ALP was like a little boy having a wee in comparison!

West Midlands Fire Service replaced Ward End's aerial with a water tower not that long ago, but apparently it never impressed, and after a few years was sold on. No doubt because it wasn't a Rosenbauer.

"I have seen the future.... and it's German-shaped!"

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 27 April 2018.

I wonder if there has been interest in the performance of the one lancs had on trial for year from other brigades. Certainerly a more balance design that magirus carps on twin axle scania/volvos

Evidenting showed there worth. As bought that one and another. Seen some videos of the 1st one at a few waste/industrial fires. Reminds me of wmfs pump water tower.



Added by Neil on 30 April 2018.

Yelp.
Im surprised it didnt impress. With areas of the west mids being quite industrial its long boom and double moniters would have some punch. What output did they have at maximum from each moniter.

Added by Neil on 05 May 2018.

Sorry, Neal, but I don't really do technical detail! I just remember reading that it failed to impress, and as a result was operational for far fewer years than a standard aerial appliance. Unless its purchase was merely a sneaky underhand method of losing a dedicated aerial appliance altogether! First downgrade to a water tower, run it for for a few years, and then get rid of it! Wouldn't put anything past those writing the cheques these days.

Added by Yelp Bullhorn on 08 May 2018.

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