Fire Vehicles
When something is on fire or there is a serious problem of another kind, then the natural response is to dial 999 and call for the emergency services. If it is a fire you are dealing with or another incident that requires specialist attention then the fire brigade will be right on their way. Fire fighters are the brave men and women who tackle dangerous problems, putting them right and helping to make sure that life threatening situations are dealt with effectively.
And where would the fire brigade be without their vehicles? The fire engine is a familiar site on any British street, with its distinctive red colours and its sirens allowing it to drive through traffic; they allow fire fighters to reach the scene of an incident in good time. But there is more to the fire vehicle than simply driving – their size and shape is specifically designed to carry with it a range of fire fighting equipment. It means that when fire fighters arrive at the scene they are fully prepared to deal with the matter at hand quickly and effectively. Such equipment includes ladders, hoses, extinguishers, pumps, cutting equipment, standpipes, pike poles, axes, ventilating equipment, hose ramps, floodlights, breathing apparatus and various other tools.
The London Fire Brigade is fire brigade responsible for helping in emergencies in the capital. For them, the standard, most commonly used fire vehicle takes the form of a Dual-Purpose Ladder, with nearly 200 in use in London and all of the various tools needed for dealing with emergencies. Seeing as they deal with fires, they require an enormous capacity for spreading water over a fire and controlling it; ultimately putting it out. This means that the fire vehicles will carry 1,365 litres of water with the pumping capacity allowing it to deliver 3,910 litres onto a fire every minute. Because of the nature of the calls that they arrive at, fire engines will also carry a first aid kit with them.
As well as the fire brigade, there are various other companies that might have fire vehicles, particularly companies who buy them and sell them on to other companies for various uses. It means that fire vehicles can be seen in all shapes and sizes in various parts of the UK.