West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is to spend £2.4 million on six new fire engines for its fleet.
The appliances will replace six of the oldest fire engines in the fleet – four of which are over 20 years old and two of which are 16 years old.
The decision to use the money, from the “fleet capital replacement programme”, was taken on Friday (20 December) by West Sussex County Council cabinet member Duncan Crow.
Councillor Crow, the cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, authorised the purchase of the new 16-tonne fire engines.
They hold 1,800 litres of water and will cost £400,000 each.
A tendering process will be carried out, with the aim of awarding contracts by March 2025.
A report from Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton said that the new vehicles would bring a number of benefits.
They include improved vehicle and firefighting technology and a clean-cab concept that reduces firefighters’ exposure to contaminants.
They would meet “Euro 6 emission standards”, support the county council’s goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030, cut maintenance costs and reduce the risk of failure of emergency response vehicles.
