For fire departments

Ultra-modern emergency trucks to arrive soon

Provincial fire brigade commander Franz Kropf demonstrates the technical capabilities of the new swap body vehicles to Provincial Councillor Dorner.(Bild: Reinhard Judt)

A clever five-stage plan is now being implemented in Burgenland's emergency services

In phase 1, the purchase of 17 swap body trucks (WLA) was planned. The ultra-modern emergency trucks have now arrived in Burgenland. The WLA will be handed over to the established fire department bases in the coming days and weeks. "The disaster control plan was presented in 2022. Now we are working consistently to implement each individual phase," says Provincial Fire Service Officer Heinrich Dorner at the presentation of the first swap bodies at the Provincial Fire Service Command in Eisenstadt.

"This gives our fire departments a versatile truck that is ideally suited as a base for regional and supra-regional operations and acts as a carrier vehicle for various superstructures," emphasizes Provincial Fire Service Commander Franz Kropf.

Huge investment
Specifically, the multifunctional vehicles can carry various superstructure modules such as platforms for technical operations and elements for fighting fires with the aid of a roll-off tipper. In addition, WLAs are equipped with a loading crane and accessories such as a work basket, pallet fork, timber and shell grab. "The very powerful cable winch is also an important component," adds Kropf.

Each swap body vehicle is supplied with two superstructures: a logistics superstructure (vertical lift with tarpaulin roof) and a flatbed for recovery operations. To ensure that the swap body trucks can be used immediately after delivery, training has already taken place for the fire services at the disaster control bases. "All five phases should be completed by 2027. A total of 20 million euros has been earmarked for the safety concept," says Dorner.