Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has introduced a new vehicle to support its technical rope rescue team. 

The specialist team responds to incidents across Kent and Medway where there’s a need for technical rope access and rescue, such as rescues from height, depth and complex lifting incidents of casualties. 

Until recently, the team operated a Land Rover with limited space for both equipment and crew – meaning a secondary KFRS vehicle was needed to accompany the unit to incidents. 

Now, the Team has a new addition to its fleet - an Iveco 4x4 chassis cab, which has been designed and built by specialist supplier Angloco, with input and testing from Kent firefighters. 
  
KFRS worked closely with the manufacturer throughout the build process – including a visit to the Angloco factory - to ensure the layout and storage was optimised to suit the requirements of the team. 

The result is a fit-for-purpose vehicle, and as well as improved storage, the cab offers an additional row of seating to transport the entire crew, supporting a more flexible mobilisation to incidents.

Jack Keogh, Workshop and Maintenance Manager at KFRS said: “This new vehicle for the line rescue unit demonstrates KFRS’ ongoing commitment to the development of our specialist capabilities to help keep people safe. 

“And, working closely with the manufacturer and including our crew’s firefighting insights has led to this vehicle’s precise design, making us all the more able to respond to emergencies across the county.”

More information about KFRS’s specialist teams is available at www.kent.fire-uk.org