Hi-tech new equipment now available for use by West Midlands Fire Service

Hi-tech new equipment that can allow fire crews to pump high volumes of water from open sources such as canals and rivers is available for use by West Midlands Fire Service from today (Thursday, August 31, 2006).

The High Volume Pumping Unit (HVPU) can be used to remove large volumes of flood water or to supplement firefighting water supplies. This equipment was used to great affect at the recent large fire at Buncefield Oil Terminal in Hertfordshire.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer John Brown said: "This new equipment is a fantastic tool at our disposal when dealing with incidents of fires and flooding.

"It can deliver large quantities of water over greater distances than the pumping equipment on fire engines, meaning that appliances that would have to act in relay to pump water to an incident scene can now be freed up and remain available to respond to other incidents.

"The new equipment will also be invaluable in dealing with large scale flooding, helping us to remove floodwater at a greater rate than previously possible."

The HVPU, which is located at Sheldon Fire Station, consists of two modules, one containing the lightweight hydraulic submersible pump and a hose box and the other containing two hose boxes. Each of these hose boxes contain 1km of 150mm diameter hose.

The equipment can be used in a water source 60 metres from the power unit and can pump up 7,000 litres of water per minute - this is around twice as powerful as existing pumps.

Fire service personnel have been trained to use the equipment, and the Police and Environment Agency have also been made familiar with it. Fire Control staff have also received training to prepare them for mobilising the new equipment.

The arrival of the HVPU is a result of the Government's New Dimension Programme, set up to enhance the country's fire and rescue services' capability to respond to a range of threats including terrorist incidents, industrial and domestic incidents including chemical spills and collapsed buildings, and natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

A total of five HVPUs have been introduced into fire brigades within the West Midlands region, forming part of a total number of 50 HVPUs which will eventually be available nationally. The equipment may be called upon to attend regional and even national emergency incidents, such as the Buncefield Oil Terminal fire or the flooding in Boscastle, Cornwall.

The equipment will be in use for training purposes shortly and we would be happy for film crews or photographers to attend and see it in action. For more details or to arrange that contact me on 0121 380 6101.

Firefighter Jon Wall (front left), Station Officer Clive Mason (front right) and colleagues from White Watch at Sheldon Fire Station with the vehicle housing the High Volume Pumping Unit.

Firefighters from West Midlands Fire Service using the High Volume Pumping Unit on an exercise in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield.

Firefighters using the High Volume Pumping Unit.