NEW PUMPS AND NEW RECRUITS FOR RYDE AND NEWPORT FIRE STATIONS

Firefighters at Ryde and Newport have been getting to grips with brand new appliances this month – and both stations will soon be welcoming new wholetime recruits too. For the past 14 years, the Isle of Wight has been protected by Scania P280 fire appliances, supported by the older Mercedes Atego pumps from the early 2000s – both built by John Dennis Coachbuilders. The first Scanias arrived in 2010, with an additional 2 appliances in 2017. Now, a new era has begun with the arrival of Volvo FL appliances for the Island’s 2 wholetime stations, built by EmergencyOne. Volvo has been the preferred chassis provider for Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service since 1988, so naturally the merger between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in 2021 has led to a change for appliance bays across the Island’s 10 stations – which recently reduced to 9 with the temporary closure of East Cowes and could easily become 7 following a service review. Earlier this month both Ryde and Newport welcomed a ‘Papa 7’ Rescue Pump, each equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System. After weeks of familiarisation and driver training, the pumps went on the run on 8th May. They carry much of the same equipment as their predecessors, including a 135 ladder, but now promote a ‘clean cab’ policy where the breathing apparatus sets are stored outside the crew cab.

It’s understood that retained stations across the Island are to receive smaller Papa 6 appliances – known as Light Rescue Pumps – later in the year, as Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service looks to roll out a total of 31 of the smaller appliances over the next 2 years. The arrival of the Papa 7 appliances comes just weeks after Island Echo reported on the development of a new Incident Command Unit. It is expected to go on the run in the Summer. The pumps are not the only new arrivals at Ryde and Newport… Harrison Matthews and Lewis Evans are 2 of 14 new firefighters who have just completed an intensive 17-week course at headquarters in Eastleigh, which began back in January. FF Matthews will be joining Newport’s Red Watch, whilst FF Evans will be joining Blue Watch at Ryde. Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin has said:

“Our graduates would not have made it through the application process and training programme without the support offered by family and friends. I am sure that feeling will continue as they take their first steps into a new career which will both challenge and reward them. “Throughout their time with us our trainees have displayed all the attributes and values we expect from our firefighters every day. They will arrive on station ready to help make life safer across Hampshire and Isle of Wight”.