There was a dire need for a new fire truck in Hå municipality, but the budget was tight. Then the fire service came up with the solution of buying a milk truck from Tine and giving it a new life as a fire truck. Price tag for the project: NOK 1 million. – If we are talking about buying a brand new fire truck that is built as a tanker by fire truck builders, then we have saved several millions, says fire chief in Hå municipality Per Ivar Aniksdal about the creative solution. New fire trucks cost around NOK 5 million, according to Aniksdal. The fire service in Hå municipality saved several million kroner on the milk truck purchase. Photo: Odin Omland / news – We haven’t really done much. We have changed the color and given it a professional label. We have torn out the hydraulics and the pump the dairy had and replaced them with pumps and pipework that suit our scheme. And with that, large sums were saved. Specifically, between NOK 3–5 million. – The fire brigade deserves credit One of those who is satisfied that the municipal fire brigade has saved money is the mayor of the municipality, Jonas Skrettingland. Mayor of Hå municipality, Jonas Skrettingland. Photo: Anders Fehn / news – It’s a perfectly good solution, and it has to be. The quality of the fire service must not be compromised, he says. Skrettingland points out that the municipality is under financial pressure. – It’s great that they think creatively and find cheap solutions. He says the fire service deserves credit. – Tine has enough guidelines for how much the tankers can be driven before they have to be replaced, but it can probably work well as a fire engine for many years to come, says the fire chief. Kristin Vesterheim, who is transport manager in Tine, explains that the tanks can transport milk for 15 years before they need to be replaced. She thinks it’s great that the fire service uses the tankers, and says they are more than good enough to transport water in. – There are many fire trucks around Norway that were formerly milk trucks. Tanks that are usable are very interesting for the fire service and to use further. Tine Meieri’s equipment has been replaced with the equipment of the fire service. Photo: Odin Omland / news Can assist in other crisis situations The fire engine holds 15,000 liters of water, and is a good buffer to start extinguishing before there is access to a hydrant or open water source. Should the need arise, the tanker works for more than just firefighting. – The positive thing is that we are keeping the washing system as the dairy trucks originally have. After a trip through the car wash, the car is clean enough to drive drinking water. The blue light can also flash yellow, if it has to assist a technical mission in Hå municipality in a water main break or if we have to transport drinking water in a crisis. The mayor believes it is important to think about preparedness, and calls it a win-win situation that the car can be used for other things as well.
ttn-69
