New f leet of 40 smaller, faster f ire engines to hit the streets
A FLEET of rapid response vehicles equipped with life-saving technology is to transform Scotland’s fire service.
From next month, 40 Rapid Response Unit (RRU) vehicles will be on stand-by in fire stations across rural areas.
Unlike traditional fire engines, the RRUs are smaller and faster, which means they can respond more quickly and gain access even on single-track country roads.
For the first time, the vehicles will carry the latest firefighting technology, including high-pressure ‘coldcut’ lances capable of blasting a jet of water through steel or solid stone, meaning a blaze can be extinguished even from the outside of a building.
The ultra high-pressure lance system enables firefighters to tackle fires in enclosed spaces by injecting a fire suppressant through the wall to douse the flames inside more quickly.
Reflecting the changing role of the fire service, the RRU vehicles will also be fitted as standard with defibrillators, allowing firefighters to act as medics and respond to emergency callouts where a person has suffered cardiac arrest.
The vehicles, purpose-built by Scottish firm Emergency One, have been bought as part of a £7.6 million investment in the fire service.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) chief officer Alasdair Hay said they were ‘designed specifically to meet the needs of Scotland’s most remote geographical areas’.
He added: ‘This proven firefighting technology means our crews can begin firefighting within seconds of arriving by cutting straight to the heart of the fire.
‘Retained and volunteer firefighters are the most amazing people, dedicated to protecting their communities, and it is right and proper that we provide them with the best tools for the job.’
Fire chiefs say trained crew are often the first emergency personnel on the scene at incidents, and the first few minutes are critical in attempting to save the life of a casualty who has stopped breathing. Gary McKay, 41, SFRS head of service delivery for Glasgow South, said defibrillators used by firefighters had already saved ‘scores’ of lives over the years at fires, road accidents and other incidents.
He added: ‘It’s our responsibility to ensure that emergency responders are fully trained.
‘Our firefighters undergo a 16-hour trauma programme which trains them in highperformance CPR, the use of defib machines and airway management.’