What difference does 3mm make? Quite a bit when it comes to fire hose it seems.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is testing out a new type of hose reel, which could make it easier for firefighters to tackle blazes quickly.
The 22mm hose has been fitted as standard on a new, smaller fire engine which entered into service this month.
At 3mm wider than a standard 19mm hose, the new reel can double the amount of water that’s put onto a fire- delivering about 100 litres per minute more than the standard equipment.
The extra capacity makes the larger hose heavier, but a special coating on the outside makes it easier to carry- particularly around narrow corners.
The next step is for firefighters to test the hose for themselves, which will involve putting it through its paces at the service’s training and development centre.
The feedback from firefighters will then help the service to decide whether to adopt the new kit across the county.