Launch of new fire engines delayed for up to a year by virus

NEW and replacement fire engines may not be deployed in Somerset until the middle of next year because of the coronavirus.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service will be spending more than £15 million over the next five years on replacement fire engines as part of its Safer Together programme – with just over £5m being committed for the first year.

Parts of the programme have already been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the phasing out of fire engines at Bridgwater, Taunton and Yeovil being postponed.

Now the delivery of new fire engines has been delayed until 2021 due to a lack of parts and staff training, though some smaller vehicles will be introduced before that time.

The fire service is investing in three new types of vehicle to allow it to respond more appropriately to fires across the service area: light four-wheel-drive pumps, which can be first on the scene quickly; wildfire all-terrain vehicles; medium rescue pumps to replace the existing fleet of fire engines.

Director of service improvement Damien Borlase said in a report: “It is anticipated the roll out of the new L4P vehicles... will be delayed due to the unavailability of parts and training for crews.

“This should recommence in midJuly or August, with the expected introduction of the new wildfire allterrain vehicles in September.

“A three- to six-month delay is anticipated for delivery of the first batch of Medium Rescue Pumps (MRPs), which forms part of the fleet replacement project. These are now expected between April and June 2021.”