New £200,000 fire engine unveiled

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Chief fire officer Darran Gunter hailed the Unimog's arrival.

A new £200,000 fire vehicle has been unveiled in Dorset to help tackle heathland blazes.

The 4X4 Unimog is designed for rough terrain and can carry up to 5,000 litres of water to the scene of a fire.

Fire crews said it was ideal for tackling heath blazes in rural areas. It comes after a fire at Talbot Heath last week that destroyed five hectares.

The Unimog, which has been bought as part of the Olympics build-up, can also pump water in major flooding incidents.

Mike Dredge, fleet and engineering manager, said: "Following the large heath fire in Talbot Heath just last week, it is important to allow Fire Authority Members and the public to see the vehicles and equipment we are using to tackle these fires.

'Go anywhere'

"The Unimog will be invaluable in reducing the amount of time it takes to put large fires out."

The vehicle can also protect itself with a "water curtain" allowing it to travel over burning land.

Darran Gunter, from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Across Dorset every year we receive hundreds of calls to fires in heath land or on grass.

"What we have found is many parts of the county were unable to get their with a normal fire engine.

"But the Unimog has the capabilities of carrying firefighters, of going basically anywhere in any conditions, and for example it can go into up to one metre of water."

The fire service said it hopes to expand its fleet ahead of the Olympic sailing events on the Dorset coast in 2012.