New state-of-the-art fire engines are almost ready for action

Bedfordshire and Essex fire services have teamed up to splash out £2million on the new vehicles.

The first six, expected to be in use within weeks, will be based at Kempston, Dunstable and Luton community fire stations.

The new fire engines include specialist rescue equipment, pumps and hoses that means they can be used at a wide variety of incidents from house fires to road traffic accidents.

They combine the proven reliability of a Scania chassis with innovative new design features created by appliance builders Angloco.

The vehicles were built after consultation with six eastern region fire services who each contributed their own improvement ideas to help make firefighting more effective and safer for firefighters.

Chief fire officer at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Paul Fuller said: “These vehicles are a much needed and extremely useful addition to both services’ fleet. This is a great example of collaborative working, not just between ourselves and Essex but with all the regional fire and rescue services. They have created a fire appliance which includes cutting edge technology and innovations that will make firefighting both more effective for our communities and safer for our firefighters.”