Firefighting motorcycles

[Slide Panda]

Liverpool is testing out a couple BMW based firefighter motos. The aim is for car fires and other small 'anti-social' (read soccer hooligan) fires.

Pretty cool - makes a lot of sense, like those goldwing tow bikes.

http://dvice.com/archives/2010/07/firefighting-mo.php

[herm]

car fires require a lot more water than people would think. besides, as soon as the fire toasts the electrical, the car is a complete loss anyway.

i have to vote no...

[NorDog]

The car may become toast immediately, but you still want to put the fire out.  A twin agent system could fit on a bike and it could easily put out a car fire.

[Düb Lüv]

i'm sure they would use a chemical or the stuff that's in extinguishers to be more effective. neat idea.

[abby normal]

i rode with the guy who trains police and fire dept. riders in the liverpool area
(google MCacademy.co.uk).  this guy is one of the most skilled road riders
you'll ever meet.  anyone in the UK needing training to move up the license
ladder ... give 'em a call.

[DesmoLu]

Moto Firefighter is a really badass job. Just sayin'

[RB]

just heard about this bike on the BBC yesterday. It does carry 50ltrs of foam, and as mentioned is for small burns. The idea is that most of the calls that Liverpool deals with are very small fires but an entire truck and two or three fire fighters are sent to the scene that requires only one. £25k for a two wheeled fire-extinguisher, and one person as opposed to a £50k truck plus crew. Not to mention upkeep and maintenance.
They do mention car fires also, but obviously it would have to be caught early enough for 50lts of foam to douse the flame.

i think it's a cool idea...at least to test out.

[sugarcrook]

Hopefully Top Gear gets its hands on some....

[NorDog]

just heard about this bike on the BBC yesterday. It does carry 50ltrs of foam, and as mentioned is for small burns. The idea is that most of the calls that Liverpool deals with are very small fires but an entire truck and two or three fire fighters are sent to the scene that requires only one. £25k for a two wheeled fire-extinguisher, and one person as opposed to a £50k truck plus crew. Not to mention upkeep and maintenance.
They do mention car fires also, but obviously it would have to be caught early enough for 50lts of foam to douse the flame.

i think it's a cool idea...at least to test out.

The way to go is with a twin agent system.  A quick burst from a PKP type dry chemical extingushing agent will knock down very huge flames immediately.  A moderate shot of foam agent will keep the flame down.

[pitbull]

A scott pack, a few small rescue tools and travel in pairs and it could be a useful fire vehicle. I could see it being useful as a quick response small rescue unit to car accidents for very basic extracation and/or first aid until a larger unit arrives. I could also see it being useful as a rescue unit at house/industrial fires. Two firefighters on a pair of bikes could arrive ahead of larger units and make a quick primary search for victims and fire recon. It would also be useful as a first aid vehicle arriving quickly to stabalize a patient until a full paramedic crew arrives.

As for car fires.......it could be useful if you arrived before the vehicle was well involved, but wouldn't carry enough water or chemical to stop loss a fully involved car fire.