Equipment
and Training
The
Bedford Self-Propelled Pump, better known as the Green
Goddess (those in Northern Ireland are actually
painted yellow), is an austere but powerful pumping
appliance, owned and maintained by the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister. Built on the Bedford S chassis
between 1953-6, one advantage it enjoys over most modern
fire appliances is 4x4 drive, giving a good cross-country
capability. It is fitted with a a powerful water pump
capable of feeding four hose-lines with 900 gallons
per minute, and carries a first-aid tank of up to 300
gallons of water as an alternative to supply from a
hydrant. The system is capable of foam use when necessary.
1600 feet of hose is carried, plus a range of other
fire-fighting equipment, including a second, lightweight
and portable, pump and a ladder. Despite common misconceptions,
the vehicle is capable of speeds up to 50mph. A limited
number of Red Goddesses are also available - these are
somewhat more modern vehicles and are being used to
supplement the Green Goddesses in areas where their
capabilities are likely to be most useful. The vehicles
are capable of 70mph, have a more powerful pump, and
a standard Fire Service 13.5m ladder.
The
Green or Red Goddess is manned by a crew of six Service
personnel. These include a driver, who has undergone
a special Green Goddess course to master the handling
of the vehicle, which weighs 8.4 tonnes, and an Officer
or Non-Commissioned Officer trained as a crew commander.
The Green Goddess crews are trained to fight and contain
fires. Obviously, the highest priority is to save human
life. To this end, two types of dedicated rescue teams,
formed from professional Royal Air Force and Royal Navy
firefighters and other military personnel who have undergone
an intensive five-week course, are available to back
up the Green Goddess crews. The three-man Breathing
Apparatus Rescue Teams (BARTs) are trained and equipped
for the dangerous task of entering a smoke-filled building,
as well as dealing with road traffic accidents. Where
more specialised equipment or skills are needed, Rescue
Equipment Support Teams (RESTs) are also on hand.
The BARTs and RESTs deploy in modern vans, fitted with
blue lights and appropriate markings. Like Green Goddesses,
these vehicles will receive a police escort when responding
to an emergency. The vans carry equipment such as hydraulic
rescue gear, breathing apparatus and, in the case of
the RESTs, thermal cameras and protective suits for
chemical incidents.
848
Green and Red Goddesses, manned by 10,000 personnel
from all three of the Armed Forces, are available if
needed. 331 BART teams have been trained, along with
59 REST teams: these comprise a further 2,500 personnel.
Some 6,500 other personnel may be used to support the
operation.
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