WATER RESCUE UNIT

The Antecedent Services all had different vehicles for Water Rescue Units, 4x4 Pick-Ups/Transit Vans/ in Strathclyde Mercedes dedicated WRU vehicles and in Dumfries and Galloway full size appliances, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are standardising these on Mercedes Sprinter 516Cdi 4x4 vehicles with bodywork by Carmichael who re-branded on 29/1/2018 to CSS (Carmichael Support Services). The Mercedes are classed as Level 2 Water Rescue Units or Swift Water Rescue Units and tow a Rigid Inflatable Boat.

At Polmadie they are a Level 3 WRU station and have in addition to the Level 2 Mercedes WRU a dedicated 4x4 Pick-Up used to transfer a  dedicated crew consisting of of a Crew Commander and two Firefighters to the Glasgow Nautical Collage pontoon where there is a boat, St Mungo 1, in the water and a Pioner 7 Boat also in the water. The Level 2 response Mercedes is Jump crewed by the first appliance as it has 5 of a crew.

At Knightswood their Level 3 response is Jump crewed and their boat, St Mungo 2, is moored at the pontoon at the west side of the Riverside Museum.

Scottish Fire and Rescue cover Water Rescues from the Weir at Glasgow Green down to the Erskine Bridge where rescues are then carried out by the Helensburgh Lifeboat.

Dumfries and Galloway used full sized 18 Ton Scania appliances with a box containing an inflatable boat and other equipment in place of the 135 ladder. They were known as Fire and Flood Rescue Tenders. These have now been converted to standard Rescue Pumps.

The 20 water rescue units supplied to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service have been allocated to key fire stations throughout Scotland. These specialist rescue vehicles are based on the Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516 Cdi 4×4 free issue panel van. The bespoke design laid out to the customers specific requirements features two segregated areas. Immediately behind the cab their is an enclosed area with an open bulkhead with additional seating for 3 crew with sliding door access and innovative stowage solutions for technical/water rescue to the rear.

The Water Rescue procurement is complete and awaiting contract award. Orders are expected to be placed in the coming months for twenty full packages, which includes boats, trailers and outboards.
(SFRS Board Minutes 17/12/2020. Capital Monitoring Report. 3.4.4)

Photos of Water Rescue Units

Antecedent Strathclyde Fire Brigade Water Rescue Unit Page.

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