Scalia% futuristic fire fighters
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A Scania open day in Hamilton, Strathclyde last week featured a display of fire fighting equipment designed to serve into the next century.
Among them was a Bronto Skylift 28-2T1 telescopic platform with rescue ladder the second of three ordered by Kent Fire Brigade at a total cost of .2591,000. The first is all ready in service at Maidstone. The Skylifts are mounted on three-aided Scania rigid chassis and are powered by the 202kW charge-cooled engines with GA770 automatic transmissions.
By opting for the Finnishbuilt appliances Kent has followed the example set by Cheshire, Cleveland, Isle of Wight and Leicestershire.
The 28-2T1 with its five man/400kg cage capacity has a 28m working height and an 18m outreach from its three sectional hydraulically-operated telescoping boom. Its end section pivots, allowing the cage with its stretcher fittings, power tool connections and water monitor to work through windows, beyond roof parapets or to 7.0m below ground level through a 180° arc at up to 8.0m out from the vehicle.
Simon Engineering of Dudley has supplied Strathclyde and Tayside brigades with a pair of SS263 three-boom Snorkels for up-and-over rescue work. It also favours the telescopic concept and is developing its own version for use on both two and three-aided rigids. This will not be available before December, but orders have already been won from three brigades.
Operational safety and parts availability are behind Strathclyde's preference for Scania's factory-built all-steel six-man crew cab. It plans to replace another 10 water tenders with models based on the P92ML and P93ML 4x2 fire appliance crew-cab chassis, bringing its Scania-based tender fleet to 30, including three converted sleeper-cab models, boosting its total fleet to over 200.