Four new fire engines are set to join Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service after the county’s commissioner agreed spending for replacements.
Staffordshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams has approved the purchase of four new pump rescue ladders (PRLs) for the county’s Fire and Rescue Service.
It is not currently known where the new vehicles will be stationed. They are expected to be delivered to the service some time during 2026/27.
The decision notice was presented to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel at its latest meeting. Members were told that the investment in the new vehicles was around £1.1m in total.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Adams said:
“A key priority in my Fire and Rescue Plan is ensuring that the service has the resources it needs to respond to fires and other incidents. It is essential to maintain a fleet of vehicles that are modern, fully fit for purpose, and capable of meeting the operational demands of today’s Fire and Rescue Service.
“These new appliances are a significant investment in the future of the service and will help to ensure the safety of our firefighters and our communities in a range of emergency situations.”
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager Chris Craddock said:
“These new fire engines will help us meet rising demand and keep communities safe across Staffordshire. The new pump rescue ladders (PRLs) will be used to respond to a range of incidents, either as the primary resource or to support special appliances such as the Water Rescue Unit.
“We are committed to investing in our fleet, stations and equipment to provide the best service possible to communities across Staffordshire.”
The service currently has 33 pump rescue ladder appliances made up of Rosenbauer AT’s, Scania B type and MAN 4×4. The service’s website stated that these are traditionally operated by a five-person crew, but can respond with four or as a TRV (tactical response vehicle) with three people.
The Commissioner’s decision notice said:
“During autumn 2024 Joint Emergency Transport Services (JETS) worked with Emergency Response Team (ERT), Finance, Procurement and other stakeholders to review the Vehicle Replacement Programme (VRP) for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Fleet. During this exercise the current fleet are assessed against factors including age, mileage and suitability for purpose.
“Replacement of existing appliances is part of the services replacement programme, allowing the disposal of vehicles which have reached the end of their life within Staffordshire. Due to the age and condition of existing PRLs a do-nothing option has not been considered as viable at this time.
“Operating an older fleet places demand upon JETS as the risk of mechanical failure increases. This results in more ‘off road unavailable’ time.
“Obtaining parts for older fleet can be problematic and more expensive if the structured replacement programme is not followed. A fire appliance has an operational life of around 15 years.”
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