Fire Engines Photos

Very political but, for many years France would not entertain buying foreign appliances, especially German made appliances.Looks like times are changing.
Have they been doing this for very long?.Nice batch of pictures, thanks.

Added by Pete Matten on 13 August 2008.

The french are maybe lucky in the respect that they still have a fire appliance / truck builder that they can still turn to.

Maybe political, but if Britain had stayed loyal to home grown products, the brigades might have more reliable machines that the ones they currently use.

Home grown products are always the best, easier to source spares unlike trying to get them from a certain German manufacturer!

Added by John Johnstone on 15 August 2008.

As far as I'm aware, the first Mercedes appliances with the BSPP (Paris Fire Brigade) are the FPTs (pumps) and EPAs (turntable ladders) delivered in the last three or so years.

Pumping appliances in recent years have been on Renault, but also Iveco chassis, however, so there is precedent for foreign manufacturers. In the 1980s, Iveco also supplied the chassis for the first generation of PSE (Premier Secours Evacuation - first strike fire/medical emergency vehicles) and for turntable ladders.

On the whole, however, it is undoubtedly true that the French have stayed loyal to indigenous manufacturers of both chassis and bodywork for its fire appliances. Heavy vehicles based on Renault, and lighter vehicles based mainly on Renault and Peugeot, chassis have been overwhelmingly predominant in the last few decades (since the demise of other French manufacturers such as Berliet).

Added by Pete Ellis on 15 August 2008.

To be honest, the only reason the majority of British services don't buy British is because its cheaper to buy a truck like a Scania or MAN than a proper fire engine like a Dennis.
I think many things here need an injection of a small amount of patriotism, and not just the purchasing of home grown products!

Added by David Sapsford on 15 August 2008.

John, I could'nt agree more and I'm 100% behind you in what your saying.



Added by Pete Matten on 15 August 2008.

The simple fact of the matter in my mind is that, rather than the brgades all pulling apart and opting for various appliances ie r.p's etc, they should remain individual brigades with a common design uk sourced appliance, oblvoiusly with a spec to suit most needs ie r.p, etc.

Built in the uk, means parts sourced fast = less appliance down time, more jobs as ( hopefully ) each brigade would buy the product, thus improving the economy as a nation but more the brigades been able to buy a home sourced product capable of the job instead of something that sees a roundabout and falls over or in the case of North yorks case being told, you can't have the part until Monday as the Manufacturer is now closed for the week end!

Added by John Johnstone on 16 August 2008.

I asked a senior fire officer just the other week at an open-day, why is the brigade now just turning to Scania for there replacement programme? includes an order for 3 new rescue units(again Scania). His reply was quite simple, the down time now on Dennis is unexceptable, it takes days for replacement parts, where as parts and service from Scania was the same day of a problem occuring.We all know that Dennis (JDC) celebrate their 100th year in 2008, but I wonder how much longer this Company will survive the onslaught from foreign manufacturers. This subject will be on going for many years to come. I've no further comment.Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 16 August 2008.

In 1989 Colmar FS in purchased the first TTL Mercedes 1422 Metz in France, the Renault dealer pressured the city hall, why? how come? etc... However the FS report prooved there was no comparison to a Renault chassis.
Power, manoeuvre, longevity, comfort, and more. The ladder is still in use today and will be replaced this year.
Many provinces in France are now changing to Scania, Mercedes, MAN, for the same reasons as mentioned above in the UK.
Not only in Fire engines is Renault facing strong competition in France, many city are changing their Buses from Renault to Mercedes.

Added by Jacques Peter on 17 August 2008.

For an update, BSPP has now reverted to Renault for their new FPTs, but have bought three Scania ALPs - their first. The question of national origin seems to be shades of grey rather than a black and white issue. Note that, as BSPP is a military unit, it is actually a French government agency.

I also heard unofficially that BSPP are very unhappy with IVECO and are trying to get rid of them as fast as possible. I have heard similar comments from as far away as New Zealand, and even the Italian VdF are switching from locally-built IVECOs to Mercedes and Volvos now, but still with BAI bodywork.

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 August 2014.

2 new additional Scania ALP are commissioned now and will be placed in service this September

Added by Jacques PETER on 23 August 2014.

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