STYLISH
When the alarm bells ring
When it comes to supporting the UK's fire services, there's no room for compromise - absolute reliability is the key. Which is why one of the country's leading suppliers of fire rescue equipment choose Vauxhall, and the new Astravan, for their 24-hour service. Words by Anne Bain pictures by Lewis J Houghton
It's a familiar scenario. When that alarm goes, everything else stops and there's a rush for the doors. After all, time is of the essence when a fire calls. But this isn't a scene from some TV soap opera - it's a real life drama that has become part of the normal working pattern for one Ayrshire-based firm that shoulders some very big responsibilities when it comes to firefighting.
Not that this is a fire station. There are no shiny poles to slide down, no firemen and women kitted out and ready for action. There are plenty of fire appliances, though, because this is home base for Emergency One - one of the biggest manufacturers of fire engines and equipment in the UK.
The Cumnock-based company is big, too, on the means to deal with emergencies - manufacturing fire appliances for most of Britain's regional fire services. But when that call does come, the retained firemen who work at Emergency One (most of them as coachbuilders) down tools and head for the door just as urgently as any other colleagues in the force.
While Emergency One misses them while they're gone, they know the on-the-job experience they bring back is irreplaceable when it comes to the broader job of manufacturing fire rescue equipment. As production manager Willie Burns, 48, says: 'we've become very accustomed to the guys having to leave. But, obviously, because of the nature of our business and the important job they're doing for the local community we have no problem with it.
And actually, there's a big benefit to the company, as their hands-on experience can help us do our job even better'.
It's easy to see how invaluable that experience is, too, when you think what's involved.
But just as important as making these appliances, is being able to provide the spare parts and servicing to keep them operating efficiently and reliably in challenging situations.
So Emergency One operates a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week back-up service; and, with an eye to that total dependability, ever since the company was established back in 1989, they've only used Vauxhall vans for this side of the business.
In Willie's words, 'for the past seventeen and a half years we've had a great relationship with our local Vauxhall dealer, Kerr & Smith. They've given us great back-up, and never let us down - and in this business we really need that'. It's a nationwide business, too. Way beyond Scotland, Emergency One supplies brigades throughout the UK - and once they are in service each and every appliance needs to
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