Spring Issue 2000
HAWSON GARNER FINDS ITS SEA LEGS |
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| Hawsons have recently equipped a pair of short wheelbase 5cylinder diesel Land Rovers
for the Kent Fire Brigade. These vehicles are based at Sheppey and Strood Fire Stations.
The stations are multi-role. One of those being the operational base of Kent Fire
Brigade's two Fire Launches. The craft are 8m rigid inflatables built by Delta. The boats
have a weight of approximately 2.5 tonnes and are regularly towed between those stations
and their respective launch sites around the county. The Fire Launches operate inshore around the Kent coastline, especially the Rivers Thames, Medway and Swale and their tributaries.They allow fire crews and equipment to be transported to fires in small craft, to act as safety craft whilst personnel are working near the waterline and to provide assistance, if required, to the Marine Safety Agency in search and rescue duties.The Fire Launches are equipped to high standards and include the following equipment: Two 90hp Honda 4 stroke outboard engines. State of the art GPS navigation and communications equipment. First aid and resuscitation equipment. Floodlighting. 2 on-board electric submersible pumps, powered by a 4kw generator giving a firefighting capability of approximate 1100 litres of water per minute. A comprehensive range of safety and rescue equipment.The craft takes a crew of two operators and a firefighting team of four, along with additional firefighting equipment as may be required. Once launched to an incident, a Fire Brigade Officer will take the Land Rover to a vantage point to assist in communications and control duties between the craft and Brigade HQ.
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The crews at Sheppey and Strood are also the only stations in the county to deal in specialist mud and ice rescues. The Land Rovers are modified to take two crew members and a wide range of rescue equipment. Additional trained team members follow on in a traditional fire appliance to act as support. The following equipment is carried in the Land Rovers to mud rescue incidents: 1x10m mud/ice rescue path. 1x5m mud/ice rescue path. Air lance for injecting compressed air around a trapped casualty to break the suction caused by submersion in mud. Life jackets. Dry suits.p Helmets c/w headlamps. First aid equipment.p Numerous other rescue and safety items Brigade communications equipment. Blue lights and sirens. Extra rear floodlighting. Cab night heaters. Specialist tyres for use on soft ground.
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Newtown
Vehicle Rentals have taken delivery of the final batch of
vehicles from a 71 vehicle order that was completed within a tight 4 week schedule
specified by Newtown. The vehicles were a mixed batch of Volkswagen LT35, and Ford Transit vans designed to be signals vans, bonding vehicles, and rapid response units, specified by Amey fleet services, and operated by Serco. The dropsides were all built on Volkswagen LT35 chassis cabs, with HMF cranes and messing areas.The van contract required the fitting of messing areas, washing facilities, storage units, lashing rings and ply lining as well as a host of other specifications. All the vehicles have been equipped with the new Tracker System, and the first completed Volkswagen was exhibited at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in March this year. The Ford Transits were supplied by Mike Taylor of Hartwell Ford Oxford, and the Volkswagen LT35’s were supplied by Vince Harris of P&O Tipton.
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