The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Crews test lance that can cut through steel
Firefighting: Water then pumped through hole to douse flames
A new super-hose being tested by north-east firefighters is so powerful it could be used to cut through steel plates to tackle fishing boat blazes.
The ultra-high pressure system uses a lance which firefighters press against tough surfaces – including brick walls and steel plates – and blast through with grit.
Water is then pumped into the hole at high pressure to douse flames and reduce heat inside enclosed spaces. The remarkable device keeps firefighters out of harm’s way because it allows them to work outside buildings.
The fire service is now using the new hose in operational trials across the north-east.
Yesterday fire service incident commander Chey Ewing explained the new technology to local councillors in Peterhead and said it could be used to cut through steel panels.
Independent councillor Alan Buchan, a former fisherman, welcomed the tool as a way to combat trawler blazes.
Mr Buchan said: “We’ve had a number of vicious fires on fishing boats in the north-east recently. It can take days to put them out because of the materials on board.
“I was a fisherman so I can understand why.”
Mr Buchan welcomed comments from the senior fire officer that the lance would help his crews tackle blazes on and below the decks of fishing vessels in Peterhead and other Aberdeenshire harbours.
He added: “Anything that keeps firefighters out of harm’s way is most welcome.”
Originally developed in Scandinavia, the high-pressure lances use water loaded with grit to cut thumbnail-sized holes into tough surfaces.
Tests in England have shown the hose can reduce heat in a confined space from 700C to 80C in less than a minute.
In August last year, three trawlermen had a lucky escape from a blaze which destroyed their boat in Peterhead harbour.
The crew of the Ardent II jumped to safety on the quayside after one of them spotted smoke while using the toilet at 5am. More than 30 firefighters from across the north-east battled for two days to bring the flames under control.
Earlier this month, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) called on trawler owners to regularly test electrical equipment and ensure detectors are fitted.
The Ardent II was not fitted with smoke detectors.
“We’ve had a number of vicious fires on fishing boats in the north-east”