We currently operate 32 appliances including smaller vehicles for narrow spaces, the map below shows the distribution across our stations, shaped by demand and risk. We will:
To improve efficiency, the current nominal lifecycle for an operational fire engine will increase to 15 years with appliances being rotated across stations and teams supporting other functions. The rotation will balance out accumulated mileage and wear and tear, with vehicles reaching a higher mileage taking up a position of a second fire appliance on a station. With the increased length of emergency response driving courses, the driver training vehicle will be included in the fire engine rotation programme.
To achieve a smoother asset replacement programme, some flexibility regarding replacement is required to even out costs. However, equipment such as Breathing Apparatus (BA) needs to be replaced all at once due to the complexities of training introduced through having a wide product range. The strategy aims to smooth out vehicle purchases over the period to ease pressures on capital and maintenance costs.