Dartmouth greeted a new rapid intervention vehicle to the fire station this week.

The smaller and more agile vehicle was launched to the community at Dartmouth Fire Station.

This new emergency vehicle will enable crews to access smaller roads and lanes with ease, while carrying the latest technology which includes a nine metre ladder on the roof, a six metre triple extension ladder and new electronic cutting equipment.

Dartmouth Fire Station commander, Simon Rendle said the new vehicle would be a “great asset” for the narrow streets of Dartmouth.

“The crews love it as they know what it is capable of and it is now their vehicle of choice.

“It also enhances the team feeling, especially when you are all inside the cab as you are so close together, it enables everyone to exchange ideas.

“In a normal fire engine when you are in the front you can sometimes feel like you are on your own. The vehicle just really works.”

The mayor Cllr Rob Lyon and mayoress Di Lyon attended the launch event on Wednesday, February 20.

They said: “We are always supportive of our firefighters and the work they do.

“Dartmouth has very narrow streets and this new vehicle will be able to travel quickly to scenes of emergencies.

“It carries a lot of equipment and we are very pleased to have it here.”

The new vehicle has numerous benefits:

The rapid intervention vehicles are located where they will be most effective with the equipment used most often

Rapid intervention vehicle’s are smaller and can get to some incidents quicker

The vehicles carry the latest technology such as fog spike which enables firefighting to start from outside a building and electronic cutting equipment

They are less expensive to buy than larger fire appliances

Locally based fire officers were involved in the decisions on the most effective locations for the new vehicles to be sited

South Devon Group commander, Matt Johnson said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for Dartmouth Fire Station to shoe off their Rapid Intervention Vehicle.

“They are very proud of their station and this has been as much about celebrating the Dartmouth crew and the station as well as introducing this new vehicle to its community.”

The RIV will be supporting the existing fleet at Dartmouth Fire Station, resulting in a fleet to meet the challenges in the future.