Shooting out hundreds of gallons of water into the heart of a roaring blaze, Scotland’s first firefighting robot blasts into action.
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robot → shoot → action
Currently being trialled by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the remarkable machine has already helped to tackle major incidents.
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machine → trialle → incidents
Capable of crossing rough ground on its caterpillar tracks, the remotely operated vehicle can pump out almost 800 gallons a minute from up to 80 yards away.
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vehicle → cross → gallons
The new device was deployed for the first time earlier this month, when a huge fire broke out at a recycling centre in Linlithgow, West Lothian.
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fire → deploy → Linlithgow
Dragging heavy hoses behind it, the robot aimed a torrent of water into the centre of the inferno, eventually bringing the flames under control.
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robot → drag → control
A few days later it was deployed again after a fireball exploded at an industrial estate near Perth.
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fireball → deploy → Perth
And last weekend the robot was called into further action at a fire in a Glasgow scrap yard.
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robot → call → yard
SFRS's firefighting robot is used for the first time at a recycling centre fire in Linlithgow
Firefighting robots, such as this one in China, are commonly used across the world
A fire at a scrap yard in Glasgow is tackled by the firefighting robot, currently on loan to SFRS
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fire → use → SFRS
The £150,000 robot has been loaned to SFRS free of charge for six months to assess how effective it is in tackling fires on a large scale.
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it → loan → scale
And last night group commander Mike Henderson said the machine allows fire crews to beat a blaze without having to expose themselves to flames, heat and choking smoke.
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crews → say → flames
Mr Henderson said: ‘It’s really innovative technology.
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It → say → ?
Although it will never replace human firefighters, the aim is that it can remove them from hazardous high-risk areas.’
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it → replace → areas
Built by Rosenbauer, a global firm specialising in firefighting equipment, the robotic vehicle is based at Dunfermline Fire Station but can be despatched anywhere in the country.
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vehicle → build → country
A wireless console allows an operator to control it from up to 300 yards away.
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operator → allow → it
Sensors on the machine mean that it can detect any obstacles in its path, with an in-built failsafe mechanism ensuring that it will never run over any casualties that it may encounter.
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it → mean → that
Meanwhile, video and thermal cameras relay real-time images – as well as vital data on the temperature of the blaze – back to the operator and to observers in the incident control centre.
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cameras → relay → centre
If the operational trial is a success, a number of similar robots could be introduced to the fire service across Scotland.
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number → introduce → Scotland
Mr Henderson said: ‘We’re still carrying out trials to help us understand the capabilities, potential operational benefits and limitations, to see how they operate and whether they would be a valuable and cost-effective addition to the SFRS.
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they → say → SFRS
‘Generally, though, they wouldn’t be used in domestic dwellings.
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they → use → dwellings
The robot has the potential to reduce the risks to firefighters, who have one of the most dangerous professions in the UK.
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who → have → UK
In 2009, firefighter Ewan Williamson died at a blaze at the Balmoral Bar, Edinburgh.
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Williamson → die → Bar
The 35-year-old bravely went down to the basement to tackle the flames but became trapped in the burning building.
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old → go → building
And just three years ago, Barry Martin died while tackling a blaze at the former Jenners department store in the capital.
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Martin → die → capital
The 38-year-old fell down stairs, damaging his equipment and removing his air supply.
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old → fall → supply
Having suffered severe burns and injuries from lack of oxygen, he died in hospital four days later.
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he → suffer → hospital
The Aporia
