Cromer must wait for decision on new fire engine

Twelve new fire engines are on the way to Norfolk as the county's fire service invests in new equipment.

But Cromer will have to wait to see if it gets one of the new smaller 4x4 vehicles earmarked for the station in a review of cover.

Over the next two years Norfolk County Council's fire and rescue service will take delivery of ten off-road rescue pumps. The 4x4 vehicles, a first for Norfolk, will do the same as a standard fire engine but will also be able to cope better with severe weather conditions, such as flooding, ice and snow or forest fires.

These fire engines will cost around �250,000 each which will replace older fire engines within the Norfolk fleet, will be deployed strategically across the county.

Two �300,000 Heavy Rescue Pumps (HRPs) will also be joining the Norfolk fleet at Great Yarmouth and Thetford. as back-up for larger accidents as well as carrying the full equipment and capabilities of a standard fire engine.

Cromer was among the stations which the review highlighted as a possible location for a 4x4 vehicle.

Fire service spokesman Martin Barsby said: 'The review of the second appliances at the six two-pump retained stations (including Cromer) which was part of the Safety Plan is still on-going. The option of replacing the second pump with an alternative vehicle is still under review.'

The new engines were part of a wider fleet replacement programme and the pumps would be placed across the county to match the areas of greatest risk for incidents such as flooding or forest fires. The work on exactly where these pumps would be located was still under way.