Fire Engines Photos

These small Mercedes are a common alternative to the ubiquitous VW Transporter vans which are still very popular as ELW 3 command vans, and I think they may be increasingly taking over this role from VW with more and more German fire services.

It is common practice at full time fire stations for the station watch commander to ride an ELW along with his driver-aide to all full house turnouts, which usually include two pumpers or rescue pumpers, a turntable ladder and often a fire service ambulance. For rescues and road traffic accidents, the ladder team will respond instead with a heavy rescue rig, and some stations also have alternately manned specials, such as tankers, hazmat rigs and/or cranes, line rescue tenders, water rescue units as well as various others.

In the case of the numerous volunteer fire companies, the ELW is usually based at the principal fire station, and is often staffed by additional personnel. The senior officer either rides the ELW or responds in his own official car, if the company issues him with one.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 April 2026.

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