GM expands its fire fleet following additional investment in keeping local communities safe
- Additional fire engine joins Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s (GMFRS) fleet at Moss Side Community Fire Station
- Expansion of GMFRS’s frontline fleet to help meet the demands of a rapidly growing city region
- Service’s 52nd fire engine added alongside £3.5m investment this year replacing 15 current fire engines with state-of-the-art, greener vehicles
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has expanded its fleet of fire engines for the second time in a year, with 52 fire engines now serving the city region.
The latest additional frontline engine has officially gone on the run at Moss Side Community Fire Station.
The fire engine was unveiled on Friday 19 September, at an event attended by Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities Kate Green, alongside GMFRS Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel and station-based colleagues.
The introduction of this appliance is partly a result of additional investment in Greater Manchester’s communities coming out of GMFRS’s 2023 Fire Cover Review. This review looked at how GMFRS could best adapt its resilience and operational preparedness in a constantly growing and changing city region, keeping public safety at the forefront of everything it does.
GMFRS is one of the only fire and rescue services in the UK increasing and improving its fleet. The new fire engines are part of a bigger investment in the service, including £3.5m to replace 15 current fire engines with brand new greener and state-of-the-art models.
This is the second fire engine added to the fleet following the review; the first engine was introduced to Manchester Central Community Station in December 2024 - the first addition to its fleet in more than 18 years. This does not just mean more fire cover for the city centre, as the additional fire engines are also available to respond to emergencies outside the city centre, if needed
Greater Manchester already has some of the fastest response times in the country and the increased capacity will help to improve those even further.
The new fire engines will also see additional crew members based at Moss Side to increase the capacity for prevention and protection-focused outreach in some of the highest-risk areas.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“It has always been a stated promise of mine to reverse the cuts dealt to our emergency services during the austerity years and get it back into growth, and we’ve maintained this commitment in the face of significant funding challenges facing fire and rescue services nationwide
“Our two new fire engines and increased investment in GMFRS are an important contribution to our overall ambitions for Greater Manchester, helping keep people and communities safe, protecting business, and enabling them to thrive. “I am proud that GMFRS is recognised as one of the best performing fire and rescue services in the country by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and this investment will ensure that we continue to provide a service residents can rely on.”
Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, said:
“The Fire Cover Review was a crucial piece of work aimed at enhancing the strength and resilience of our service for the public of Greater Manchester. The addition of another fire engine to our fleet will enable our crews to provide the highest level of service to communities throughout Greater Manchester, delivering on our aim of being a modern, flexible and resilient fire and rescue service.”
Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, said:
“These additional engines are part of wider programme of enhancements to fire cover and special appliances across Greater Manchester, alongside other investments including improved firefighter fitness facilities, new state-of the-art fire engines, fire station upgrades, plus brand-new fire stations that are being built, in Blackley, Whitefield and Stockport. This work is crucial to ensuring that Greater Manchester is served by one of the best fire services in the country.”
Article Published: 20/09/2025 07:15 AM