DEVON and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is currently in year seven of a ten-year rolling programme to upgrade and modernise its frontline fleet.

The investment is delivering a modern frontline fleet that meets the changing and challenging risks of our geographical profile and the emerging trends both locally and nationally within the fire sector.

Since 2018, the fire service has made an investment of £27 million, bringing into service the following vehicles.

Fifthteen light 4x4 pumps, known as L4Ps; 45 x medium rescue pumps, known as MRPs; five all-terrain vehicles, known as Argocats; three aerial ladder platforms, known as ALPs; four all-wheel drive medium rescue pumps, known as AWD MRPs and various vans for different purposes, such as co-responding, community fire safety, area support technicians, and workshops.

The fire service is due to have another four AWD MRPs and five water carriers shortly.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has recently awarded a contract worth more than £7 million for 25 new pumping appliances, which will start to replace light rescue pumps.

The new pumping appliances will have MAN 12 tonne chassis with full dedicated battery-operated rescue equipment, 10.5 metre ladder and two 22mm hose reels, positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fan and an increased amount of firefighting hose, including 51mm hose.

The team is currently working on specifications for technical rescue vehicles, incident command units (ICUs) and welfare support units.

The welfare support units will comprise of a mixture of welfare trailers and toilet units, which will vastly improve the facilities for firefighters at a multitude of incidents.

After this, the team will be working on replacement heavy rescue tenders (HRTs) and other specialist vehicles.

As well as the above-mentioned vehicles, the service have rolled out 40 new flexi duty officer (FDO) cars to replace the older Ford Kugas.