New generation fire engines for Oxfordshire

OXFORDSHIRE fire crews have begun to take control of the next generation of fire engines, after a collaborative partnership with neighbouring fire sevices. The resulting agreement will see a total of 37 new fire engines over the next four years, and aligned working practices between Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. New features of the new fire engines include:

L-R: Cllr Peter McDonald (vice chair Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority), Cllr Judith Heathcoat (Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue) and Cllr Angus Ross (Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

• Larger (22mm) hose reels to enable water to be delivered more quickly to extinguish fires
• Battery-powered extrication equipment, which is easier to carry and less bulky than hydraulic equipment previously used to cut casualties from vehicles; eliminates potential hydraulic hose hazards and removes generator noise from rescue situations
• Improved mobile lighting for better visibility at the scene of an incident
• A more comfortable seating area for crews. This is especially important as firefighters are typically spending more time in the fire engine, completing prevention work such as Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSCs)