Liverpool deploys firefighting motorbikes
Firefighting motorbikes will be used to tackle blazes across a city, it was announced today.
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 two riders will be kitted out in state-of-the-art equipment which allows them to start fighting blazes as soon as they arrive at a scene.
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."
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."
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