TEN fire service vehicles, which have been subject to safety concerns by officers, have been taken out of service by fire chiefs.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service introduced the rural response pumps (RRPs) earlier this year, prompting the Fire Brigades Union to issue a safety critical notice because of their concerns. They claimed the vehicles, which are adapted Mercedes Sprinter vans, could not hold enough equipment and only carried enough water to be pumped for just under four minutes.
Last month, the service launched an investigation, following the failure of a water pump on an RRP responding to a house fire near Lampeter.
Since then, the water tank on another RRP based in Ammanford is said to have cracked, and a second RRP drafted in to replace it from Carmarthen is also said to have suffered a broken water tank.
Now 10 of the vehicles have been taken off the run, and sent back to their manufacturer - but fire chiefs say plans have been put into action to cover their absence.
A Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We can confirm that four operational appliances and six that were undergoing testing and training, have gone back to the manufacturer for essential maintenance work and upgrades, which are in keeping with the standard terms and conditions of the warranty agreement.
"As part of our standard fleet management arrangement, reserve appliances have been put into service in the relevant areas to ensure there is no impact on fire cover and will remain there for as long as necessary."
The service said the vehicles were intended to provide cover in rural areas. But the FBU claimed they had been used to replace standard engines.
The vans had been rejected by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service as unsuitable, but the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service declined to comment on whether they had consulted with other fire services, including West Yorkshire, before buying the vehicles.
The Fire Brigades Union declined to comment on the latest development, while it continues discussions with MWWFRS management.
But former firefighter Gordon Walker, now a Swansea councillor, said: "It was pointed out by the FBU that these vehicles were not suitable, and yet management still went ahead and purchased them." ?Have Your Say - page 12 ?What's your view? Got a story? Contact reporter Rupert Hall at [email protected] or call him on 01792 514597
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