These units are called VA - "Vehicles to Accompany a pumper". They carry a large supply of preconnected flaked hose for relay purposes and a supplementary load of foam compound in cans, in the combined roles of hose layer and foam tender.
They attend all second and higher fire alarm calls in the Greater Paris BSPP response area, and are also special called if needed. Always accompanied by a high capacity pumper, they have a crew of only two firefighters.
Added by Lambert Arnaud on 26 July 2010.