Swedish truck maker Scania has certainly made major inroads into the fire and rescue sector in the past decade or so in Australia and it seems the truck maker is not resting on its laurels, with constant innovation appearing to drive new demand in new parts of the sector.
The company revealed an interesting variation on the fire and rescue applications this week, showcasing a pair of highly advanced mobile firefighting solutions targeting the oil and gas industries.
Scania said the new advanced fire fighting truck comes via Fire and Safety Australia, which it says is ‘an industry leader in the provision of contracted emergency response services’.
It explains that the first of two Scania P 500 XT 4×4 firefighting appliances, with bodies built by Frontline Fire and Rescue in WA, has just been delivered to the emergency response team at the premises of one of Fire and Safety Australia’s clients in Queensland.
Prior to deployment to Queensland, the appliance was ‘road’ tested at the Fire and Safety Australia Perth Live Fire Training Academy, where it passed its test with flying colours. The appliance carries 3000-litres of water, 200-litres of B-class foam, and is equipped with a two-stage 2000-litre per minute pump, and a 2000- litre per minute in-cab remote control roof mounted monitor.
According to CEO of Fire and Safety Australia, Steve McLeod, the new Scania is the perfect appliance for remote contracted emergency response services protecting Australia’s mining, oil and gas industries.
“This appliance features the latest modern design and high levels of crew safety. We’re excited to get this into the hands of our emergency services officers on-site so they can deliver contracted emergency response services in remote regions of Australia.
“Fire and Safety Australia is constantly working to raise the standard of emergency response services for our clients. This is the first of two new Scania 4×4 Fire Appliances. Built in Perth at Frontline Fire and Rescue they will raise the bar for safety, preparedness, and firefighting capability across the board,” McLeod said.
Benjamin Nye, Scania Australia’s director of truck sales said Scania is a key partner to firefighting services across Australia with more than 700 appliances in action daily, providing reliable and safe transport for live-saving crews.
“Our expertise in providing the correct and exact configuration of base vehicle for emergency services and their preferred bodybuilders across Australia, means we can deliver a tailored solution for every task,” Nye said.
The FSA Scania is equipped with a 500 hp six-cylinder 13-litre engine that can accelerate from 0-80 km/h in under 25 seconds, providing rapid deployment to the fire front in great safety, with an all-steel CrewCab that Scania says exceeds European and Swedish crash test standards.
The Waterous CLVT Engine driven pump, rated at 2000– litre per minute at 1000 Kpa, allows for both stationary and pump-and-roll operations, enabling efficient firefighting from multiple positions.
Scania says its CrewCab body can accommodate a crew of five, with dedicated lockers for extrication tools, technical rescue equipment, first aid, and hazmat supplies.
The appliance also features Vehicle Rollover Protection (ROPS), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) storage in the rear cabin seats, and a quick stow ladder gantry to ensure crew members are always prepared for action.
The new Scania appliances also meet the stringent Safer Together standards for the oil and gas industry. The integration of large-volume water delivery and foam application will also aid in asset protection, especially when isolating gas supplies and valves during an emergency.
