Unlike the typical truck-based vehicles used by the fire services, Pickup’s Sprinter Compac still delivers a high level of firefighting kit, but in a smaller, more cost-effective vehicle, says the company.
The vehicle is based on the 5-tonne 519 CDI chassis and is powered by a 190bhp Euro 6 engine, with an automatic or six-speed manual transmission. It has a factory-built steel crew cab with seating for up to five firefighters.
The body is constructed from high-strength polypropylene and includes lockers and drawers to carry tools and equipment, as well as an 800-litre water tank and Godiva KP2 PTO-powered pump. A nine-metre ladder is stowed on the roof.
“We believe there’s a growing need for a smaller, lighter, more efficient vehicle, one that provides a high level of firefighting ability but with much lower running costs,” says Pickup’s managing director John McGauley. “Our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversion meets this requirement perfectly.”
“The vehicle is just like a standard fire tender, but downsized,” he adds. “It can easily cope with the majority of fire situations and is also well suited for responding to road traffic collisions and water rescues. It really comes into its own, though, when attending incidents in areas where access is restricted, such as tight inner-city streets or narrow country lanes.
“At the same time its lower initial purchase price, and greatly improved maintenance costs and fuel economy, mean it can be as much as 60% cheaper to operate than a traditional truck-based fire engine.”
The Sprinter chassis was the obvious choice, says McGauley, due to its reputation for reliability. Pickup Systems had technical support from Mercedes-Benz and dealer Ciceley Commercials for the vehicle’s development.