London’s firefighters will be getting a new look when their new-style fire kit hits the streets in 2010.
The new blue fire kit will be worn by the men and women of London Fire Brigade when responding to ‘999’ calls. The current kit came into service in 1999 and work started last year to find a replacement that would serve the Brigade into the next decade.
The contract with Bristol Uniforms Ltd will supply new fire tunics, overtrousers, helmets, fire hoods, gloves and boots. The kit was selected from a number of potential kits following a series of rigorous testing and evaluation, including trials by Brigade operational staff. Every element of the new kit has been designed to integrate with each other and the new kit is fully compatible with all other equipment used by the Brigade at incidents such as breathing apparatus sets and chemical protection suits.
The kit for the Brigade’s 6,000 firefighters will be manufactured during 2009 and will enter operational service early in 2010.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson, said: “The current kit has served the Brigade well but we have taken advantage of the latest technology from an evolving and competitive market to purchase a replacement that is safe, light and comfortable .
The safety of our firefighters is of paramount importance and a new fire kit has been chosen that will meet the exacting standards demanded by the London Fire Brigade.”
