West Sussex Fire Service Invests £2.4m in Six New Fire Engines

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is set to spend £2.4m on six state-of-the-art fire engines as part of its fleet upgrade programme.

The new vehicles will replace six of the oldest appliances, four of which are over 20 years old, while the other two are 16 years old.

The decision, approved on December 20 by Duncan Crow, cabinet member for community support, fire & rescue, was funded through the Fleet Capital Replacement Programme. Each 16-tonne vehicle, costing £400,000, will hold 1,800 litres of water. A tendering process will take place, aiming to finalise contracts by March 2025.

According to Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, the new engines offer enhanced technology, a cleaner cab design to reduce exposure to contaminants, and compliance with Euro 6 emissions standards. This aligns with the council’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, while also lowering maintenance costs and improving reliability during emergency responses.