These do rather underline the reality that some French rigs are really small when compared to other countries. I know BSPP has bigger hazmat units too, so I suppose the idea behind these minis is to have more numerous and readily available units to deal with minor incidents, without tying up the bigger and more serious units too often.
FDNY has a similar approach, with a comparatively small hazmat “bread van” attached to each of its eight Squad Companies, as well as some basic hazmat equipment on a number of other units, in addition to HZ 1 and 2, which are really huge tandem axle units based at the centrally located special operations headquarters station on Roosevelt Island.
This approach also presumably facilitates a quick initial response to perhaps achieve an element of containment before the big boys show up.
FDNY has a similar approach, with a comparatively small hazmat “bread van” attached to each of its eight Squad Companies, as well as some basic hazmat equipment on a number of other units, in addition to HZ 1 and 2, which are really huge tandem axle units based at the centrally located special operations headquarters station on Roosevelt Island.
This approach also presumably facilitates a quick initial response to perhaps achieve an element of containment before the big boys show up.
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 February 2024.