Fire Engines Photos

Seems that each iteration of these amazing dual purpose pumper-ambulance combinations adds incrementally more and more capability, capacities and flexibility every time the design is updated. As a student and unabashed enthusiast when it comes to CAFS, I am so pleased to see BSPP standardizing this feature on all their new pumpers. Starting in the Netherlands and then Germany and the USA, this technology has revolutionized the speed with which structure fires can be knocked out with much reduced water damage and much less exertion on the part of fire crews. Originally developed for shipboard fires, it was later widely adopted for grass and forest fires due to its effectiveness stretching limited water supplies in remote areas - and has now in recent years been the gold standard for safe, rapid and effective use in structures too.

Although it is usually a class A foam system, some fire services have found it quite effective on vehicle fires too, and useful at recycling center fires too, which also involve a lot of hydrocarbons. Another benefit which is often quoted by fire departments in the USA is the presence of the air compressor, which can power air tools for rescue operations in addition to its primary role feeding the foam system.


Added by Rob Johnson on 08 September 2025.

Good to see that the PS has been renewed for a further generation. What caused the BSPP to change their mind about replacing PS with FPTL and VSAV?

Added by Mark Penny on 18 September 2025.

According to J-P, who has great contacts with BSPP, the commanding general is regularly replaced every few years and each leader has his own ideas about things. So the combination PS pumper ambulance fell out of favor and then was resurrected with even better firefighting specifications - with a bigger tank, a CAFS installation and a larger crew included.Personally I suspect that Covid was partly responsible for the thinking that BSPP needed more dedicated ambulances and fewer PS evacuation trucks. In that time, the VASV were seriously overstretched, and the PS were apparently so busy with medical calls that their availability to respond to fires was seriously compromised.

The impact of the structurally high turnover of commanding generals also explains many of the other changes in specifications and suppliers of other fire service vehicles over the years, as well as changes in staffing and in where various units are located in the metropolis area served by the BSPP. Although most of this dynamic approach results in improved response and coverage, some argue that much of it is change for changes sake….

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 September 2025.

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