R39 CJS
Isuzu Midi Appliance
Once build works were completed the innovative new appliance was thoroughly tested and also driven the almost the full length of Britain to take its place at the 1997 Bournemouth Fire Show, Highland and Islands Fire Brigade described this as the ideal vehicle for remote or rural fire Stations
On its return to the Highlands an initial short posting to Fort Augustus in 1998 was followed in 1999 by a long term posting to Bettyhill on the Sutherland’s North Coast where it replaced L216 RST a Mercedes Benz 310D van / light appliance. R39 CJS was to remain stationed in Bettyhill until 2005 when it was replaced by M427 XAS a Mercedes Benz 1124
Whilst on station in Bettyhill R39 attended 48 heath / hill fires, 14 chimney fires, 9 alarm calls, 3 road traffic incidents, 2 flood incidents, 2 house fires and 20 other incidents. It concluded its stay with a call to Armadale Surgery on the 15th of September 2005 with a reading of 21638 km’s on the clock
Next posting for R39 was to Lochcarron in Wester Ross where she was stationed until October 2008 attending 29 incidents and now showing 28394 km’s, then it was on to Torridon 22 miles to the North where not attending any incidents she remained until May 2009 leaving showing 28765 km’s
An island stint was to follow in October 2009 with Lochmaddy in North Uist becoming R39’s new home where she was to remain until May 2012 when having attended 30 incidents she was returned to Inverness to be prepared for disposal showing 31418 km’s
Now owned by the Fraser family of Dornoch, who are members of Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Heritage Trust, Brian his wife Janet and Son Steven are looking forward to restocking R39 and are planning their events calendar for 2014. Following their purchase of R39 research has shown that 3 further ISUZU NPR based appliances were built by HIFB to a slightly different design where the rear crew compartment was constructed as part of the bodywork. This resulted in R39 CJS being a unique vehicle which through its successors in ISUZU, Mitsibushi, MAN and Mercedes have proven the need for midi appliances in rural areas
Brian Fraser is a member of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Trust and has undertaken the task of showing his vehicle on behalf of the Trust and it will be out on show at numerous events all over the North of Scotland.