A fire engine equipped with specialist kit has already helped at incidents right across the Isle of Wight, from Gurnard to Ventnor, and from Freshwater to Shanklin.
The Response Support Vehicle (RSV) boasts more a modern and wider range of specialist equipment than was previously available. Based at the Island’s wholetime station in Newport, the appliance joins the two rescue pumps, aerial ladder, command unit and animal rescue vehicle manned by the station’s full-time firefighters.
Other firefighters such as Newport’s on-call teams and the crews at Ryde, have been familiarising themselves with the RSV so that they are also able to request the new vehicle and make use of the advanced equipment at incidents they are called to.
The vehicle is automatically mobilised to all serious road traffic collisions and incidents involving hazardous substances, but can be requested to support other incident types.
Carrying an armoury of kit, the RSV is loaded with hydraulic cutting gear for RTCs, water rescue equipment, rope packs for working at height, modern portable lighting to help during night-time incidents, fire extinguishers and a winch.
The vehicle also holds a waterproof gazebo to protect casualties from the rain, as well as gas-tight suits for use during hazmat incidents and gas monitoring equipment.
Isle of Wight Group Commander, Jeff Walls said:
“The Response Support Vehicle has already made an impact here on the Isle of Wight, enhancing our response to all types of callouts including road traffic incidents, gas leaks as well as rescues from height and from water.
“I’d like to thank our watch-based firefighters at Newport and Ryde, together with our training instructors and fleet team, who have given valuable input into the specialist equipment needed for the risks we encounter on the Island. The vehicle will visit our on-call stations and be involved in exercises to ensure our teams and blue-light colleagues are familiar with its capabilities.
“Armed with this modern equipment our crews will be able to continue making life safer for the Isle of Wight.”
Hampshire currently has similar vehicles based at Basingstoke, Cosham and Redbridge, with the island vehicle introduced following the fire authority combination that took place in 2021.
