NEW EQUIPMENT ON SHOW AS RUTHERGLEN MSP ATTENDS SFRS NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

For immediate release:

NEW EQUIPMENT ON SHOW AS RUTHERGLEN MSP ATTENDS SFRS NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

Thanks to new technology, firefighters across Scotland will soon be able to tackle blazes from the outside of buildings using equipment that can pierce through steel and concrete.

Last week, firefighters and staff hosted guests at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service National Training Centre in Cambuslang to demonstrate the new cutting-edge technology. In attendance were Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, the leader of South Lanarkshire Council Cllr John Ross, and Ash Denham MSP, the Scottish Government’s new community safety minister.

The newly acquired Ultra High-Pressure Lances allow crews to inject water through walls and doors, massively decreasing building temperature, whilst firefighters are working in a safer environment outside of the building. During two of the demonstrations, firefighters tackled a blaze using conventional equipment withstanding temperatures upwards of 400 degrees centigrade, then afterwards fought a fire using the new equipment which allowed them to externally decrease the temperature to below 100 degrees.

Politicians and the SFRS argue the new equipment is safer for both the firefighters themselves, and the communities they serve.

The new technology is part of a new £7.6 million fleet of 40 fire engines which will be rolled out across Scotland.

Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:

“It was a pleasure to attend the SFRS National Training Centre last week, and see first-hand of the tremendous new equipment which will be used throughout Scotland. The Chief Officer Alasdair Hay and the firefighters were very informative, and I can’t thank them enough for the brave work they do each day.

“Our firefighters and our communities deserve the very best, so in addition to existing equipment, the new high-pressure lances will allow crews to tackle blazes quickly and decisively, in a safer environment.”

Minister for Community Safety, Ash Denham MSP said:

“The use of this proven technology will make a real difference in enhancing both firefighter and community safety whilst delivering environmental benefits in terms of fuel economy and water use.

“The introduction of these new vehicles is an important part of SFRS Service Transformation, which the Scottish Government is supporting through the investment of £15.5m additional spending capacity for the Service in 2018-19.”

ENDS

Notes:

Below is a photograph of Clare Haughey MSP with the Minister for Community Safety taken at the demonstration.