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A fleet of eight specially modified Land Rovers have joined Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service to help fight wildfires in the county.

The Land Rovers form part of a package of new equipment and training to place Cumbria at the forefront of wildfire response capability in the UK - reducing the risk to the county’s sensitive landscapes and the lives of our firefighters.

The first of the new Land Rovers will be based at Silloth and Sedbergh and are the start of a roll-out which will also see the vehicles at Ambleside, Appleby, Millom, Windermere, Grange-over-Sands and Keswick.

The 2.4 litre Land Rover Defenders, with locally built bodywork by TFM Engineering in New Hutton, can carry a crew of four and are fitted with an expensive low pressure fogging system that works in a similar way to a pressure washer, and a 200 litre water tank.

To assist with limited water supplies - often the case in rural locations - additional 600 litre water trailers will be sited at Sedbergh, Silloth, Grange and Keswick and a 7,500 litre water tanker will be based at Penrith.

As well as new specialised personal protective equipment the wildfire teams will be equipped with a range of new handtools and beaters, water back packs and a 25mm lay flat hose system for efficient use of limited water resources.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is part of the Cumbria Wildfire Group –a partnership of public and private organisations in Cumbria that together work toward the prevention and effective response to wildfire.

Recent practical wildfire training has involved the Lake District National Park wardens, National Trust, Natural England, Landmarc and the Forestry Commission.

John Moorcroft, Cumbria’s Deputy Chief Fire officer, said: "The threat of wildfires is continually increasing due to global warming and the greater recreational use of rural countryside areas across the county.

"These new vehicles will make a real difference to how our team tackles wildfires in the county. The fogging system combined with the Land Rovers’ off-road capability provides a powerful new tool for suppressing wildfires.

"The team has undergone a top programme of wildfire training, based on lessons leant in other countries where wildfires are more common and we will continue to enhance the specialist skills required to tackle this type of fire."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226334.