Million Dollar Fire Appliances Delivered

May 16, 2006

The Fire Service is welcoming the delivery of two new million dollar aerial fire appliances.

Thorndon Fire Brigade in Wellington has taken delivery of the first new specialised aerial truck with a 32m ladder with basket attachment. The other one will be in service in Christchurch in a few weeks.

Fire Service director of operations and training Paul McGill says they are part of a NZ Fire Service programme to modernise and standardise the Fire Service’s aerial appliance fleet.

By March 2008, all New Zealand’s main centres will have trucks of the same manufacture, meaning firefighters trained in one city can use trucks in any other main centre.

Previously, the different makes and designs of aerial trucks created training issues when a brigade needed a temporary replacement truck.

The trucks are designed for use in multi-storey buildings and large industrial sites as they allow firefighters to access parts of a building inaccessible from the ground.

Mr McGill says this makes them an important firefighting tool for cities with large industrial precincts.

“A major fire in an area such as an airport warehouse or a manufacturing complex could have wide-reaching repercussions for the economy not just in the city where they are based, but around New Zealand.

“That’s why it’s important we have the best protection available.”

The trucks, which cost $980,000 each, are being complemented by 16 multi-use trucks with a smaller (17m) ladder and water pump which are being distributed in urban areas around the country.

The multi-use trucks are being built locally on an imported chassis, at Fraser Fire and Rescue in Upper Hutt.

“In all, these new trucks represent a $20m-investment in the country’s firefighting capability as well as a boost for local industry.”

ENDS

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