Someone in Liverpool came up with the brilliant idea of equipping motorcycles with firefighting equipment.
Liverpool is the first city in the UK to roll out two of the £30,000 bikes, which have pumps with a range of 11 metres, in a six-month pilot scheme. With 50 litres of water and chemical foam on board each specially modified BMW bike, they are capable as a pair of putting out two burning cars in two minutes.
The man in charge of the project added: "We have no intention of using them to replace fire engines. "Our two biggest work streams are automated fire alarms and anti-social small fires, which is what they will be used for."
It appears to be a very clever idea. The bikes can navigate through traffic more quickly than full-size equipment, at lower cost and using less manpower.
Link. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Nice to see backhanders are still alive and well in the UK.
I can only assume "backhander" means something different to you than to me. To me is means either a bribe or a blow using the back of the hand, effectively a reverse slap. I can't see how either of those could work in the context of this story.
@ Vonskippy "backhanders" Uh... I don't really understand.
"Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service group manager John McCormack said: "We had to make sure the protective equipment was suitable both for riding a motorbike and also fighting a fire when he gets there. He does not have time to get changed."
I would think they would be the ones to contact. I found this link for them:
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/aspx/pages/Default2.aspx
Good luck.