Fire motorcycle
Several countries around the world use fire vehicles based on a motorcycle, often for rapid intervention to beat traffic congestion.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) uses motorcycles during wildfire operations to conduct rapid response to lightning strikes for dry fire fighting, Remote Area Firefighting Team (RAFT) operations, fire trail inspections, assessment of forward containment lines, and to act as a visual deterrent in areas of suspected serial arson in bush land.
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.
[8][9] Beijing introduced fire motorcycle operations for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2014.
[11] Some municipal fire departments in Germany (Feuerwehr) use motorcycles for reconnaissance, courier duties, and traffic control.
[12][13] However, motorbikes are not part of the national Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) standards for fire apparatus;[14] if their purchase by a municipal department will be subsidised with state funds depends on local laws.
[11] In Japan, the Tokyo Fire Department uses pairs of motorcycle units nicknamed 'Quick Attackers' for fire-fighting, rescue, and medical first aid treatment.
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).
[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).
[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.
[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.
[27][28] The Northumberland fire motorcycle was later fitted with an external automatic defibrillator and trauma care kit allowing it to also be used as a response vehicle for road traffic accidents.
[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.
