Fire service trials new vehicles to tackle wildfires

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has added two new Seasonal Support Vehicles to its fleet on a trial basis to strengthen its response to wildfires and other climate-related incidents.

The vehicles, based at Woodford Halse and Raunds Fire Stations, have been positioned on opposite sides of the county to provide wider coverage. Unlike traditional fire engines, the vehicles are smaller, designed to carry both firefighters and specialist equipment into areas that may be difficult for larger appliances to reach.

Instead of fire hoses, the vehicles are fitted with tools specifically for tackling wildfires. This includes beaters used to create fire breaks, wildfire backpacks capable of carrying 20 litres of water and new firefighting blowers designed to push fire back on itself and stop it spreading across dry ground.

“We have introduced the vehicles into our fleet on a trial basis following learning from the summer of 2022, where Northamptonshire had a large number of wildfires, and the experiences of other fire services this summer like Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service, who have been heavily hit by wildfires in the past month.

Neil Sadler, Area Manager, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The addition of the vehicles forms part of Northamptonshire’s Community Risk Management Plan, which sets out how the service is adapting to the impacts of climate change. Wildfires are an increasing challenge for fire and rescue services across the UK. The National Fire Chiefs Council reported in June that services in England and Wales had already dealt with 564 wildfire incidents this year – a 717% rise compared with the same period in 2023.

“Wildfires are a risk for our largely rural county and we are constantly reviewing our capability to respond to them effectively and safely. The Seasonal Support Vehicles and our new equipment will help to ensure that we are prepared to protect the people, homes, and land in Northamptonshire.”

As part of the trial, the service will also explore how the vehicles could support flood response and what equipment they might carry to meet that need.

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