Fire Engines Photos

Hi Petros, the pipes were a feature unique to the old Cambs & Isle of Ely FB. The theory behind them was if a field or peat fire broke out, the fire crew would not need to run hoses out from the rear pump bay.

This is because as many of the fields around here have dykes and ditches along their edges it could be hazardous to do this if the appliance was driven onto the field frontwards and there wasn't much space to move about in between the crop left standing and the appliance. Also, if called to a peat fire, the (fenland) fire crews would spray water onto the ground in front of the appliance and if it steamed, they knew where the peat fire was. They then also knew not to drive any further as the burnt peat underground would leave the topsoil intact but leave a (hot) pit underneath.

Question for you (or anyone else): did this appliance or its twin serve at March FS in the late 70's/early 80s?

Added by James Carney on 29 July 2012.

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