A fire motorcycle is a specialist motorcycle modified for use by a fire brigade or fire department. Several countries around the world use fire vehicles based on a motorcycle, often for rapid intervention to beat traffic congestion. The equipment carried ranges from simple extinguishers to jet guns with hose rigs. Firefighters may also use fire motorcycles to offer medical first aid treatment.[1] In the United Kingdom, fire motorcycles are used by some fire services for road safety awareness campaigns.[2][3]
Fire motorcycles were first used in Germany.[4] In the 1930s in Russia, a fire pump was installed in the attached sidecar of a motorcycle.[4] Fire motorcycles were historically used in the United Kingdom by the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), known models include the Matchless G3L, and were often used to provide an escort for the Green Goddess fire engines during the 1960s, a pristine surviving example now used for public relations events by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.[5]
The São Paulo Fire Department of Brazil use teams of two fire motorcycles to reduce first response times to fire or medical emergencies in the congested streets of São Paulo from twelve-to-fifteen minutes for conventional fire vehicles, to just five minutes. Their motorcycles are 400 cc (24 cu in) machines, and carry basic emergency medical services (EMS) equipment, tools, signalling devices, and other accessories, such as torches and elevator keys.[7]
Beijing introduced fire motorcycle operations for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2014.[4][10] China manufacture and use fire vehicles ranging from two-wheeled motorcycles (including off-road versions), four-wheeled open quad bikes, and four-wheeled quad-based covered all-terrain vehicles,[1] along with heavy goods vehicle-based conventional fire vehicles.
Hong Kong
Fire motorcycles are used in Hong Kong.[11] According to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department's website, "Fire Motorcycles (F.M.C.) are special fire appliances developed by Firexpress A/S in Denmark to provide rapid response and to carry out fire fighting operation". They are using BMW R1100RT as their fire motorcycles.
In Japan, the Tokyo Fire Department uses pairs of motorcycle units nicknamed 'Quick Attackers' for fire-fighting, rescue, and medical first aid treatment. The units comprise two different types of 200 cc (12 cu in) motorcycles operating in an off-road capable environment: a type 'T' unit is equipped with a portable impulse fire extinguishing system, while a type 'U' unit carries simple rescue equipment and fire extinguishers. As of 2001, twenty Quick Attacker teams were in service. With Japan having a long history of earthquakes, Quick Attacker units are capable of off-road response, and are also used for rapid fact-finding in earthquake and other disaster zones.[7]
The Royal Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Malaysian Civil Defence Force in order to combat increasing traffic congestion which delays ordinary fire appliances, with response time being a critical factor in preventing the spread of fires in the high-rise residential blocks. The force operates three-man fire motorcycle teams manned by junior officers. They are usually the first to arrive at the scene of a fire or an incident, and if necessary, will enter a premises to fight or prevent the spread of a fire. The riders are equipped with impulse guns, which can fire powerful bursts of water mist at speeds of up to 200 metres per second (660 feet per second).
Nepal
Fire motorcycles modified with 75-kilogram (165-pound) fire extinguishers and emergency siren are in use in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. They are able to reach "every nooks and corners of the city, even up to the doorsteps of the houses that catch fire", and are in part funded by a 'fire tax' levied by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).[15]
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) introduced fire motorcycles in 1998, in order to combat increasing traffic congestion which delays conventional fire appliances, with response time being a critical factor in preventing the spread of fires in the high-rise residential blocks of the urban island city state.[16] The force operates two-man fire motorcycle teams manned by junior officers. They are usually the first to arrive at the scene of a fire, and if necessary, will enter a premises (with force if necessary) to fight or prevent the spread of a fire.[17] The riders are equipped with impulse guns, which can fire powerful bursts of water mist at speeds of up to 200 metres per second (660 feet per second).[16] The motorcycle model used in the force is the Honda CB400 Spec 3.
Sweden
Fire motorcycles were previously used in Sweden, but they are no longer in current use.[11]
In the United Kingdom, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has operated a number of fire motorcycles in different roles since 2005. In July 2010, they became the first fire service in the UK to deploy fire motorcycles specially equipped to fight fires.[11][18][19] The two BMW R1200RT trial bikes are fitted with two 25-litre (5.5-imperial-gallon; 6.6-US-gallon) canisters filled with water and foam and a high powered 30-metre (100-foot) long jet hose. They are to be used to combat small fires, and to free up main fire appliances.[11][18][19] They were to undergo a six-month trial, with the prospect of being adopted by other forces if found to be effective.[11] Since 2005, Merseyside had been using a fire motorcycle to attend automated fire alarm calls in Liverpool to assess situations ahead of the arrival of main appliances, due to rising traffic congestion, and because most of these automated calls are false alarms.[20] In 2007, Merseyside also introduced two Honda quad-bikes for fire safety awareness campaigns, and possibly for operational use to fight woodland or grass fires.[21]
Fire motorcycles are very uncommon in the United States of America. The Daytona Beach Fire Department has had a Motor Medic team in continuous operation since 1994.[30] In September 2012, the Los Angeles City Fire Department started a trial run studying the use of a motorcycle response team for brush fires, and to aid during times of heavy congestion.[31] Other areas in the US, including Miami-Dade, New York, Seattle, Lansing, Michigan, have explored the use of alternative vehicles for EMS response, specifically bicycles, quad bikes, and electric carts.[7]
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