Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service has enhanced its ability to respond to emergencies and freed existing resources for other duties by introducing five new Ford Ranger vehicles fitted with fire-fighting and load handling equipment supplied and installed by Penny Hydraulics.
In addition to project-managing the conversions Penny Hydraulics installed modified versions of its Load Lift platform lifts inside each vehicle to simplify the handling of emergency module trays which hold specialist equipment used for operational and support duties. The vehicles are believed to be the first of their type operated by a fire service in the UK.
Penny Hydraulics worked closely with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to adapt the existing Load Lift product to create a new equipment module lift system, says Andy Perry, Assistant Divisional Officer at Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service. From the start of the project they were open to the diverse requirements of the vehicle and equipment and this created a good working partnership in the early development stage.
Shropshire selected the four wheel drive vehicles to complement its existing fleet of fire-fighting appliances and increase operational flexibility when responding to emergencies and fulfilling community duties. Andy Perry oversaw the project and devised a novel system for handling equipment using three module trays that can be swapped over quickly.
The first includes a pump that allows water to be pumped from virtually any source including a river, stream or culvert direct to the scene of a fire. This means the vehicle can be used as a highly mobile pumping unit when supporting existing appliances or operating on its own.
The second module stores spare breathing apparatus cylinders for use at large fires while the third can be configured with a variety of items depending on the nature of the incident and to support the service's participation in national strategic initiatives such as Mass Decontamination.
Penny Hydraulics was initially recommended to Shropshire by another fire service. The company has converted and supplied a wide range of commercial vehicles equipped with load handling and safety devices to a number of public sector organisations including emergency services.
Working to Shropshire's specification the company devised a modified version of its Load Lift platform lift to handle the module trays, sourced equipment from third parties and project-managed the conversion of the Ford Ranger vehicles.
The vehicles' off-road capability allows equipment to be transported closer to an incident and reduces or even eliminates the distance pumps and other heavy equipment must be carried. This will enhance the service's ability to respond while helping officers to comply with health and safety policies and regulations.
The vehicles travel across difficult terrain to get to an incident quicker and provide easy access to the module trays and equipment, says ADO Andy Perry.
The Penny Hydraulics Load Lift is a light and compact platform lift that can be fitted inside the rear or side door of a commercial vehicle to handle loads up to 350kg to eliminate the need for manual handling. During operation the arm extends to present the platform and load on the ground or at a suitable and convenient height as determined by the operator.
The unit retracts when not in use and does not affect the vehicle capacity or load area. It does not need to be deployed to allow access to the vehicle. These were all important considerations at Shropshire because the vehicles are used for a variety of other tasks where load handling is not always needed when not responding to emergencies.
The Load Lift presents the module trays at an adjustable height for the easy removal and replacement of equipment when using the vehicle at incidents or in a support role, says ADO Andy Perry. This makes it easier for officers to handle the equipment, enables them to comply with health and safety regulations and reduces the risk of personal injury.
The vehicles can be deployed rapidly with their specialist equipment to support existing appliances. They will increase operational flexibility because fewer of the larger appliances will need to respond to each incident which means more will be able to remain on station in case they are needed for other emergencies. The vehicles' ability to respond quickly and carry up to five fire officers will also enable the service to manage the deployment of personnel more efficiently.
In addition to emergency and operational support the vehicles will be used for Community Fire Safety, for example to support Home Safety Risk Assessments, attend local community events and conduct fire safety inspections. These duties were previously fulfilled using the large appliances which will now be able to remain on station ready to respond to emergencies.
The vehicles were delivered in the second half of 2005 and are based at the Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Newport and Whitchurch retained stations. Their towbar can be detached at the fire station to allow easier loading and unloading of equipment from the back of the vehicle using a trolley system.
This eliminates the need for officers to handle manually the modules or other equipment in and out of the vehicle. The module trays can also be removed using the Load Lift so that the load space is available for display material and equipment when the vehicles are used for community support and non-emergency tasks.
The vehicles make it much easier for us to fulfil our operational and support tasks, says Andy Perry. Penny Hydraulics provided a complete design and conversion service working to our specification. Penny Hydraulics designs and manufactures lifting and load handling equipment for use in a wide range of applications.
Products include the Swing Lift range of medium duty cranes for use on pick-ups, drop-sides and flat-beds and the Step Lift, Load Lift and Tail Lift lifting platform ranges for use on pick-ups, drops-sides and vans.
The company also manufactures specialist equipment for lifting and handling wheels, tyres and barrels in vehicles and at customers' premises. Penny Hydraulics is a privately owned family business based in Clowne, Derbyshire.