Another order for Crossland Tankers

Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade has taken delivery of a new 9,500 litre water tanker from Crossland Tankers. A second tanker will be delivered in early October.

Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade's water tanker enables them to obtain water from open water sources, such as canals

Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade, whose HQ is in Worcester, requires the new water tanker to increase its ability to respond to fires in remote areas, such as barn fires, the Malvern Hills and on motorways where fire hydrants are not always available.

Phil Harvey, MBE, Fleet Engineering at H&W Fire Brigade, commented: “We have to cover a very large area - approximately 395,000 hectares in total - so we needed something more than capable of reaching those remote areas of the counties.” He added “The Crossland tanker and pumping equipment provides this for us.”

Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade’s water tanker is on a Scania chassis and features a vacuum and pressure pump which, according to Phil Harvey, “gives us more flexibility in getting the water we need.

Now we can obtain it from open water sources, such as rivers and canals, rather than just from street mains, which aren’t always readily available.” The new water tanker will be used to primarily service Herefordshire, to the mid and south Welsh border, and into Gloucestershire and Shropshire. The other water tanker currently in construction will service the east of the county.

Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade covers the whole of Hereford and Worcester with 27 fire brigades across the two counties. They have forty three front line fire engines and two water carriers, from Massey, which was recently taken over by Crossland. The next tanker will be from Crossland, which will take the fire brigade to three specifically designed tanker water carriers.

“During the tendering process, Crossland came out very cost effective and we were really impressed with the turnaround time of build. Crossland are very well known for the quality of their tankers, and their personnel were extremely professional, helpful and friendly,” Harvey concluded.