Category: FIRE

VS 68 AA is a Defence Fire Service Volvo appliance.

RX04 SMU This is a  Merercedes-Benz Econic Operational Support Unit from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue’s fleet.



The rear view of the OSU, showing the fork-lift truck that is used to unload it.

WX54 VLU This ‘new dimension’ engine is a specialist vehicle supplied by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister. It is a Prime Mover / Hose Layer / Heavy Pump, based on a M.A.N chassis converted by Marshall Specialist Vehicles.



The rear view of the same fire engine.

A close up of the front of this fire bus shows that it is fitted with blue and red flashing lights on the roof. Fire command vehicles are permitted to show a red and white checkered light, but this this vehicle has solid red.

This Mercedes Appliance has yet to be registered and assigned. Notice the bumper mounted emergency stop button for the winch and the flood lights on the roof.

WX04 WVD is a Dennis Sabre water rescue pump operated by Wiltshire Fire Brigade. It has bodywork by JDC and is stationed in Swindon.

WX53 FBG is a Mercedes Econic turn-table ladder unit with Angloco bodywork. It is seen here with its stabilisers and telescopic boom extended. The appliance is based at Swindon.

We now have a Ford Focus C-MAX demonstrator fire car. It has only the roof mounted light bar and is shown here in a generic fire livery.



The side view. The vehicle could be used to carry fire officers on day-to-day duties or on blue lights to incidents.

This is a ScotTrack Glencoe All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) belonging to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. It is a tracked personnel and equipment carrier that is used in very inaccessible areas (moorland for example). It is fitted with a blue flashing light on the cab roof as well as some livery. It doesn’t carry a registration plate.



The side view. Notice how the twin-seated cab has material sides and roof. Also notice the lack of a steering wheel! The driver controls the vehicle by a joystick arrangement. Front- and rear- facing floodlights are also fitted. The ATV is carried on a trailer towed by a fire brigade Land Rover. This example was new in 1993 and is based at Northallerton, it’s sister vehicle is a 1995 version based at Kirkbymoorside.

N765 YEF This Volvo FL6.14 is the Incident Command Unit for North Yorkshire. In an unusual white livery, this ICU carries communication equipment and office space for use at major incidents.



The rear view of this 1996 vehicle, which was converted by Baileys Totalfleet. It is stationed at NYF&RS’s HQ.

M470 KOV This Dennis SS239 is on the run at Erdington, Birmingham. It is one of a fleet of eight identical engines with successive registrations run by West Midlands Fire Service. It replaced a J-reg Dennis-Carmichael.

F538 UAJ This Volvo appliance is used by Skipton Junior Fire Fighters. Previously it was a front-line appliance with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

N177 SDA West Midlands Fire Service run this coach. It is a Dennis Javelin / Plaxton Premier 43-seater. It is used to transport personnel and is based at Solihull.

G245 UWW is a London Fire Brigade Renault-Dodge S56 truck. In 1990 the LFB bought 15 identical vehicles, with registration numbers 232-249. This one was still operational in 2005. Notice the big blue rotating beacons high up on the roof, and the small repeater on the front grille.

This red Ford Transit is used by the private company Event Fire Services.

RX04 CHC is a Mercedes Ateco fire engine used by the London Fire Brigade. This appliance has forward and reverse ‘FIRE’ wording on the front.



The side view of the same appliance. Notice how that the livery has not been fully completed at the time when this photograph was taken. It also appears that the ladders are absent form this vehicle.

P477 RHV is a Volvo FL6 with Saxon bodywork. It is about to leave Lambeth station in central London station on an emergency call.



The London Fire Brigade appliance leaves its garage at speed. Note the advertising on the side locker advising you to plan your escape route from your home.

YX51 FYE This is a Dennis Rapier appliance from Humberside FB. It has yellow and red striping down the sides and a winch (covered in red material) on the front bumper. An odd feature is the red and white checkered light in the centre of the light bar. Normally reserved for control or command fire vehicles, the light can be illuminated when more than one pump is at the scene of a fire to indicate who is in charge. It is also interesting to note that this is the only way that a UK vehicle can legally display a red light to the front.



The rear view of the Goole-based engine.

AF53 GPY A London Fire Brigade Ford Transit, fitted with a light bar and grille lights.

N843 OYN A LFB Vauxhall pick-up seen at headquarters.

F539 UAJ This engine is an ex-front line appliance from North Yorkshire F&R that is now used by Tadcaster Young Firefighters.

R804 CUA A West Yorks. Volvo FL6.18 Saxon Simon 262 Hydraulic platform, based at Wakefield fire station.



The rear view, showing the cradle.

BU04 FMG A West Midlands Fire Service Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI. Both rear doors display the two emergency telephone numbers for the UK: 999 and 112. ‘112’ was adopted in the 1990s to be the single emergency number that could be used in all European Union countries. It makes no difference which one you dial.

YR52 ODL A South Yorkshire Mercedes appliance.

YAB 254W This Dennis belongs to Kingston upon Hull Volunteer Emergency Services.



The side view shows the locker’s contents.



The rear aspect.

XAS 280V This Bedford CF van has no real livery. It is fitted with blue flashing lights and has silver locker doors on both sides.



The rear view shows the back opened to reveal a hose reel and pump.

WV52 CGK is a Mercedes Econic rescue unit operated by Wiltshire fire Brigade. It is based at Westlea fire station.



The rear view showing the lights fitted to this appliance. The top orange lights can be used as an arrow to direct traffic around the appliance either to the left or right.



The side view showing the battenburg markings over the lockers. Note that this appliance only has two crew.

CU03 AHV is the incident command unit used by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. This large truck is used to co-ordinate incidents and is equipped with rooms where the strategic planning can take place. Notice how the Welsh word for fire, tan, is also on the front of the truck.



The wording on the offside is in English, whilst on the nearside it is in Welsh. You can see from this picture that the telescopic lighting/communications tower is extended. You can also see the additional flood lighting around the side of the vehicle.

EO51 LUE This Peugeot camper van is used as emergency accommodation to people who have been made homeless due to a fire in their home. It is operated by volunteers of the Red Cross.

YB03 LUA This Ford Ranger is a F.I.R.E. – BIRD (Ferno International Rescue Equipment). It has a choice of five removable pods that are attached to the rear. The user can choose from water rescue, confined space and rope rescue, major accident rescue, fire rescue and major incident rescue and decontamination rescue.