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Fault delays new fire vehicle use Fault delays new fire vehicle use
(about 2 hours later)
Hi-tech vehicles designed to help fire crews with major incidents have been put into storage without being used.Hi-tech vehicles designed to help fire crews with major incidents have been put into storage without being used.
Nine fire services across England were given an Enhanced Command Support vehicle by the government but they have been plagued with problems.Nine fire services across England were given an Enhanced Command Support vehicle by the government but they have been plagued with problems.
The Fire Brigades Union said the £1.5m vehicle project was announced to great fanfare in 2008 but due to technical faults the majority had not been used.The Fire Brigades Union said the £1.5m vehicle project was announced to great fanfare in 2008 but due to technical faults the majority had not been used.
Communities minister Shahid Malik said the vehicles should be ready by March.Communities minister Shahid Malik said the vehicles should be ready by March.
Although the vehicles are not yet fully operational... they have been used to good effect in three incidents and exercises Communities minister Shahid Malik Ministers claimed this was ET phone home technology - ET did better with a bike and a bin lid Fire Brigades Union spokesman
New vehicles were assigned to fire services in Hereford and Worcester, Cumbria, Devon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk.New vehicles were assigned to fire services in Hereford and Worcester, Cumbria, Devon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk.
The union said there had been problems with the vehicles' satellite phones, secure digital radio systems and mobile phone networks.The union said there had been problems with the vehicles' satellite phones, secure digital radio systems and mobile phone networks.
"Although the vehicles are not yet fully operational or permanently located with individual fire and rescue services, they have been used to good effect in three incidents and exercises, most recently during last month's floods in Cumbria," Mr Malik said. "Ministers claimed this was ET phone home technology - ET did better with a bike and a bin lid," a spokesman for the union said.
Mr Malik said although the vehicles were not fully operational, or even with the individual fire and rescue services yet in some cases, they had been used in three incidents, most recently in the floods in Cumbria.
He said the vehicles had minor technical issues with the satellite communications system but he was "reasonably confident" these would be resolved quickly allowing their full deployment next spring.He said the vehicles had minor technical issues with the satellite communications system but he was "reasonably confident" these would be resolved quickly allowing their full deployment next spring.