Maybe the time has come for fire departments to do more than just consider using motorcycles for emergency response. This has been successfully done in europe for years and now the UK is giving it a try. Maybe it's time for us to do the same...

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is getting ready to trial a couple of firefighting motorcycle response units. (all photos by Tony Thomas).

Although motorcycles are already being used by Fire Departments throughout the world, this is the first time such a solution has been rolled out in the United Kingdom.

The 6-month trial will test two BMW RT1200 police-spec bikes that have been kitted out with two 25 liter water tanks and a 30 meter hose reel.

TCSS,
CBz

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I do too!!
Every City and town is different I work in a response area of about 30,000 but the nearest truma 2 ER is 20 min away truma 1 is 2 hours away as for fire small towns do not have a fire plugs every 500 feet so watch how to compair yourself to others big and small guys we all have a job to do and get home safe my hat is off to you capcity but I dont think I would make it where you are working and you might not make it where I am

I am a guy that works both paid and vol. and we all do the same job just some is paid and some are not
Quite true, Ralph, we all adapt to the conditions where we are and go from there. there's better for individuals, but overall things are just different in different places, the trick is to assign people where they work best, so not only are they happier with their work environment, but the agency is getting the most return for its payroll and training dollars.

the same is true with "immediate response vehicles" "motor Medic units" and other non-traditional response apparatus, each department needs to look at their particular situation and employ the type of apparatus and vehicles required to meet their unique needs. Some places like Daytona may find the motorcycles extremely useful during Bike Week, and places like Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and other large cities may find them useful for getting to victims quickly through congested streets and freeways. Other locations may have absolutely no need for them whatsoever!

Greenman
There are some motorcycle companies that have built a different types of three wheel cycles.
BMW has the Clever, Carver One, there is the T-Rex. They may look more like a car but use motorcycle engines.
The Clever and the Carver One have a design that allows the vehicle to lean into a curve when you turn the wheel.
The T-Rex has two wheels in front and a drive wheel in back.
Very interesting, some good ideas there.
Thank you, was gona respond but you said it all.





For the budget conscious who are cautious of outlaying too much money straight away, consider these as an option...
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/osfff.pdf
Twenty firefighters died while responding to or returning from emergency calls...Thirteen of the victims were volunteer firefighters, three were career firefighters...
http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=955&URL=Researc...

Page 12, page 13 Table 3
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.FirefighterInjuries.pdf
Dick Richard,

I almost always include links to stats, as opposed to just mouthin' a opinion.
In fact, it's surprising that you didn't look them up yourself, they are out there and readily available, even for vollies. ;-/

As to your view that I'm always "bash[ing'] volunteer departments," I'm not, but often times many of the discussions I respond to may either be about volunteer fire departments or vollies. Do a search on firefighter arson in the search function and you'll see some replies from me about how FF arsonists are almost always vollies. Keep searching and you'll find those discussions, with the LINKS to the source/stats.

And rather whine about how you think I'm picking on you specifically or vollies in general, think about what it is that I'm saying. It generally revolves around more/better training, hiring standards, NFPA Standards, Background Checks, etc. Sorry but that ain't picking on nobody, just me, holding up a mirror.
Don't get mad...get better.
Kindly note, there was NO bashing of vollies, other than Richard saying there was. People need to read and comprehend better and, in doing so would realize (in this discussion) that there was NO bashing.
Any comment I made is (and has been) backed up with statistics.

It is irrelevant how many VFD's there are when a discussion is about vollies killing themselves in POV's while responding/returning (as well as in VFD vehicles. Please make an attempt to find and read the NFPA stats).

As to the comment above about "WE ALL FIGHT FIRE!!!", that may be true but how one fights it and with whom generally is a significant difference between volunteer and paid. Not a bash, just a fact.
Even better once they mount the Q siren on the front fender! lol
I was wondering where the volunteer firefighter bashing was coming from... This discussion is about using motorcycles as an adjunct to get to people that need help, quickly, especially in heavy traffic. I also read you comments and am familiar with the NFPA stats. What you share and post is factual and possibly discomforting for some, but you always speak from the heart and tell it like it is. Your facts back it up. Plus, you have to admit that BMW Fire bikes would be soooo cool to ride and respond on...

Why should the LEO's have all the fun?

CBz

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