Fire service announce new 'rapid' vehicles

The newly designed vehicles, introduced across the South West, will reach patients faster

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is reshaping its fleet of emergency response vehicles to meet the changing needs of the community in the future.

New smaller, more agile Rapid Intervention Vehicles are being introduced at fire stations across the Service to complement the fleet of more traditional fire engines.

Introducing Our Rapid Intervention Vehicle pic.twitter.com/5c2sEZ0cOi

— Devon&Somerset Fire (@DSFireUpdates) September 27, 2018

The Service has been developing a new range of lighter and more manoeuvrable fire appliances over the last six years. Rapid Intervention Vehicles are cheaper to buy and maintain than traditional fire appliances, costing £140,000 less than Medium Rescue Pumps. They will carry the latest technology such as new cutting equipment and a water misting system that allows firefighters to start dealing with fires from outside the building.

Area Manager Joe Hassell said: “We worked closely with the manufacturer and our staff on the design of the vehicle to ensure it meets our requirements. A pilot scheme demonstrated that the vehicles can reach incidents more quickly than the larger appliances and can carry the equipment they need to provide a first response to any incident they are likely to attend.

“They will be supported by our existing fleet of fire appliances and specialist vehicles, creating a fleet that will meet the challenges we will face in the future.”