Irish Fire Service Launches World’s First Eco-Class Fire Engine | Season 4 – Episode 66
Wheels Sep 03, 2024
Carlow County Fire and Rescue in Ireland is launching the world’s first fire engine powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and solar energy, combined with state-of-the-art software. This green engine reduces its carbon footprint by 95% compared to diesel while maintaining speed, acceleration, and performance comparable to a diesel engine.
“We’re extremely proud to be the first in the world to introduce a new generation of climate-friendly fire vehicles,” said Chief Fire Officer, Liam Carroll. “Carlow County Fire Service has been at the forefront of creating innovative carbon saving solutions for many years,” said Mr Carroll.
HPMP FIRE LTD
The state-of-the-art fire engine was locally built over six months by HPMP Fire Ltd in Tullow, County Carlow, costing €462,000. HPMP Fire is a division of High Precision Motor Products Ltd, founded in 1976 by Anthony F Howard. The company, ISO9001:2015 accredited, has diversified over the years, gaining a reputation for high standards in the design, manufacture, and assembly of fire vehicles.
+++
Every week we produce two video stories on Irish transport past and present and work to preserve Irish transport heritage. Please show your support for our work with a €2 monthly subscription (less than the price of a cup of coffee) via www.irelandmade.ie
+++
INNOVATIVE FEATURES
The vehicle includes innovative features to reduce fuel consumption and carbon output. Solar panels power onboard batteries, while cloud-based software tracks fuel, carbon, and costs in real-time. Fire officers can monitor and optimise battery levels and water and foam usage. A key safety feature is Vehicle-to-Vehicle Digital Alerting, which signals other drivers to the presence of a fire engine.
CARLOW FIREFIGHTING
The Carlow Fire Service and its predecessors have a long history of innovation the development of firefighting appliances. From around 1800 ad hoc groups of volunteers were brought together to fight fires in the town. Starting in 1878, Carlow town established a formal Volunteer Fire Brigade in collaboration with the Carlow Rowing Club, Athletic Club, and Racquet Court.
Around thirty members joined initially and Major K.D. Tanner, who was deemed to have operational experience elected as the first Captain of the volunteer brigade. A request was made at the time to the Town Commission for partial uniform supplies, including helmets and buckets.
MERRYWEATHER PAXTON
In the early days of firefighting the citizens of Carlow town relied on the military fire engine and then in 1879 the town purchased a new appliance, a Merryweather Paxton.
The horse-drawn appliance, constructed by Merryweather and Sons at the Tram Locomotive Works in Greenwich, London, weighed 1,524 kg when fully loaded. It was operated by a 22-man crew who used side handles—foldable for transport—to pump water. Capable of delivering 100 gallons per minute at a rate of one stroke per second.
ADVERTISING THE SERVICE
In the days before telegraph and telephone, in-person word of mouth was the only way to summon the volunteer fire service to an outbreak of fire. A newspaper of the late 1800s advertised the availability of the fire service, but you had to bring your own horses with you! “We are asked to notify to residents in the County that in the event of a fire the Carlow Volunteer Fire Brigade will render every assistance possible, provided a pair of harness horses be sent in for engine when the alarm in given”.
1898 INNOVATION
In 1898 the Carlow Town Commissioners were again innovating with a another new appliance built specially for the town by Messrs Shand and Mason, London. In a newspaper report from the time, it was stated that the new engine was “guaranteed to throw a jet of one hundred and thirty foot high”. To mark the arrival of the new machine, it was harnessed to two horses and driven by Mr R G Johnston was paraded through the town to the delight of the citizens.
1937 INNOVATION
Further innovations came in 1937 when £800 was raised by public subscription with the monies raised further supplemented by the County and Urban Council to purchase the first motorised appliance for the county. With the registration number IC 2000 the appliance was fitted with a Simonis pump and was the first V8 engine type in Ireland.
William O’Neill’s garage assembled IC 2000 on Tullow Street, Carlow. Awarded the contract in August 1936, O’Neil ordered a heavy-duty water pump from a firm in Wembley, London and bought a Ford V8 engine and chassis from Cork. Over the next few months, he assembled and mounted the pump, adapting the power transmission to the Ford gearbox. Purcell and Sons handled the carpentry for the substructure, and Kelly Ltd did the painting and lettering.
After test runs of the Ford engine and the Simonis pump, IC 2000 fire appliance was delivered in June 1937 and Carlow Urban District Council had once again one of the best equipped fire brigades in the entire country.
2024 INNOVATION
Innovation by Carlow Fire Service in the design of their fire engines continues to this day with the delivery of the World’s First Eco-Class Fire Engine.
++
We need your support to travel, record and preserve our Irish transport heritage. Your support of just €2 per month (less than the price of a cup of coffee) allows us to travel and preserve stories of Irish transport past and present.
There are three ways of supporting us:
- Via our website www.irelandmade.ie
- Via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrlMade/subscribe/
- Buy Facebook Stars fb.com/stars
Thank you for your support.
++
If you have an idea for a story, email Kevin Reid [email protected]
Sources of Information and Photo Credits:
1937 Carlow Fire Engine IC 2000 picture courtesy of Sean O’Neill
Carlow County Museum
Carlow Traders Blog
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Dinny McDonald Facebook
Irish Independent
Media Consult
Michael Purcell Facebook
National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM)
