Diss fire station to lose one fire engine in favour of 4x4
Diss fire station is to see one of its two fire engines replaced with a new modified 4x4 vehicle as part of a long-term strategy to modernise the service.
According to Greg Preston, assistant chief fire officer of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, the Toyota Hilux vehicles, being more manoeuvrable than traditional fire engines, offer more flexibility and an opportunity to introduce new technology to the service.
At around £25,000, they also cost around £225,000 less than a regular engine, but, alongside the remaining fire engine at Diss, will meet the local demands, he said.
The regular fire engine has been upgraded to nine seats and the vehicles will work with, and alongside, each other.
“Undoubtedly the changes will save money, but it is more about updating the service and these vehicles will allow greater flexibility and the ability to innovate as technology changes,” said Mr Preston.
“The 4x4s are more adaptable and have more capabilities than normal fire engines. They can carry more specialised equipment, offer a fogging fire fighting system and flood rescue capability. Because they can go off-road, they can offer support on major incidents as well as reach remote areas that traditional engines can’t.”
The 4x4s will be in place in Diss, Cromer, Fakenham, Sandringham and Wymondham before the end of the year. They can carry up to five crew.
The move, however, has been criticised by Ben Jones, Norfolk secretary for the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), who says the new units are not a viable replacement for the existing engines and pose safety issues for firefighters.
He said: “The service needs more resilience and capacity, not more cost-saving that has nothing to do with the risks and needs of our communities.
"These vehicles will only ever be able to mobilise in support of a real fire engine, as they will not have the capacity to meet the brigade’s standards. To respond to incidents alone would risk the health and safety of the firefighters who serve their communities.”
