HOPEFULLY you won't have to call for it - but keep your eyes peeled in Taunton for a shiny new fire engine.

The new vehicle is now working in the County Town and the surrounding areas after being acquired by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

It wwnt 'operational' on Thursday, September 16, according to a spokesperson.

"Keep an eye out for it around the town or at incidents," they added.

New and replacements fire engines were due to be deployed last year, but due to the pandemic, the rollout of a £15m plan was put back.

The fire and rescue service is spending more the money over the next five years on replacement fire engines as part of its ‘Safer Together’ programme – with just over £5m being committed for the first year.


READ MORE: New fire engines delayed until 2021 due to pandemic


And the delivery of the new fire engines has been delayed until this year due to a lack of parts and staff training.

The fire service is investing in three new types of vehicle to allow it to respond more appropriately to fires across the service area:

Light four-wheel drive pumps (L4Ps), which can be first on the scene quickly

Wildfire all-terrain vehicles, to access difficult-to-reach fires in rural areas

Medium rescue pumps (MVPs) to replace the existing fleet of fire engines reaching the end of their service life