North's fire service unveils new vehicles

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has been provided with new vehicles and equipment which, in the aftermath of 9/11 and the London bombings, will enable them to deal with a major terrorist attack.

The vehicles and specialist equipment to enable staff to deal with new threats and emergencies involving mass decontamination, urban search-and-rescue and high-volume pumping, were put on display in Belfast today.

Fire and Rescue Services across the UK are being equipped to deal with a range of emergencies as part of a ‘New Dimensions’ project following the terrorist attacks on London in July last year.

Public Safety Minister Paul Goggins, speaking during an inspection visit to the Central Fire Station in Belfast, said: “Following the terrorist attacks in America and London it became essential that frontline emergency services throughout the UK were trained and equipped to meet new emergencies and new threats.”

He said having seen some of the new vehicles and equipment, and spoken to frontline firefighters who had been trained to deal with such emergencies, he was confident the North was well prepared to meet the difficult challenges faced in today’s world.

Mr Goggins said: “Whatever the emergency, whether it’s a chemical spillage, a collapsed building, a major fire or a security-related emergency, firefighters are among the first on the scene and have a crucial role in making the area safe, rescuing survivors and protecting the environment.

“That is why we need to ensure that our firefighters have the training and the equipment they need to do the job we expect them to do.

“Today’s firefighters face new challenges and I’m pleased to see that our local firefighters are fully prepared.”

The minister went on to condemn those who attacked firefighters while they were dealing with emergencies.

Attacks must stop, he said, and he warned those who continued that they faced prosecution.

“New legislation has given us the power to prosecute people who attack firefighters and we will not hesitate to use that legislation.”