High-tech fire engine runs on treated vegetable oil

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

An Irish fire service has launched the first fire engine in the world combining state-of-the-art software with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

Carlow firefighters will soon be climbing aboard the first emergency service vehicle in Ireland powered by HVO.

The world-first ties in with Carlow County Council’s climate action plan, which aims to reduce emissions in the region by 51% and increase energy efficiency in the public sector to 50% by 2030.

The 462,000 fire engine, built locally over six months in Tullow by HPMP Fire Ltd, will be ready to respond to emergencies from early next month.

Preliminary tests on new features have been carried out following its arrival in Carlow town in July and training will be conducted in the first week of September.

The vehicle was entirely funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management’s Fire Service Capital Programme.

The service says the vehicle, which is packed with high-tech software and also uses solar power for some functions, will see its carbon footprint slashed by 95% compared to diesel engines.

Its speed, acceleration and overall performance is said to be on a par with a regular diesel equivalent.

Six crew members can travel in the vehicle, which will initially be allocated to Carlow fire station.

“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 Fire Station responds to on average 350 emergency incidents annually and it is exciting to also positively contribute to the community through climate action.”

Last year, the fire service collaborated with HPMP Ltd and Acetech Global in Tullamore to design, develop and deliver the greenest fire appliance in Ireland.

HVO is considered a green fuel, as it is manufactured from renewable waste food oils and animal fats, is biodegradable and can reduce emissions by up to 90%.

The vehicle also has a number of innovative features to reduce fuel consumption and carbon output.

Solar panels on the roof provide power to onboard auxiliary batteries which run the blue lights and charge road traffic collision cutting tools.

Cloud-based software enables fire officers to track the vehicle’s fuel usage as well as carbon and cost savings to improve performance in real-time.

Fire officers can track battery levels over time, while software can monitor and aggregate total water and foam used at each fire scene to ensure optimal performance and reduce waste.

A key safety feature is the vehicle-to-vehicle digital alerting, which signals other road users to the presence of a fire appliance attending an emergency.

This provides other road users with more time to slow down, move over and avoid the scene.

Mr Carroll said: “Carlow County Fire Service has been at the forefront of creating innovative carbon-saving solutions for many years.

“Firefighting is a dangerous job where crews put their lives and health at risk every day to help protect the public and safety is our top priority.

“Not only will this fire engine combat climate change and improve the standards of our service, but its features will make the crucial work of a firefighter that bit safer.”