New Fire Engine for Telford

Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority chairman Stuart West hands over the keys of the new fire truck to driver Gareth Walker with Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor. Back, left to right are firefighters Alex Howells, Kevin Williams, driving instructor Geoff Munn, station manager Kev Faulkner, with Tony Rhodes and Alan Wilson.

Telford Fire Station has received a brand new fire appliance to deal with emergency call outs to fires and road crashes.

The new truck has updated features on board to assist fire crews including a computer monitor and an automatic pump control which means the driver can now operate the machine's pre-set pumps freeing up an extra firefighter for any emergency.

Other new equipment on board includes a positive pressured ventilation fan which clears smoke quickly to allow firefighters easier access into a burning building to rescue people trapped inside. County firefighters are currently being trained to use the new equipment.

"We want all our firefighters to have the best possible equipment to deal with any emergency they are faced with. Telford Central is one of our busiest wholetime fire stations and we are pleased to give them the very best equipment," said Stuart West, chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority.

Station Manager Kev Faulkner said the new equipment on the truck meant that water was available "at the press of a button" from pre-set pumps within seconds of them arriving at the scene saving "a couple of minutes."

Telford's three-year-old fire appliance will be used by retained firefighters at Hodnet Fire Station to replace their 1993 fire truck.

29th December, 2008