Brand-new double-headed fire engine debuts in Wuxi

The brand-new double-headed fire engine debuts in Wuxi. [Photo/wxrb.com]

A brand-new double-headed fire engine debuted in the Jianzhu Road detachment of the Binhu district fire brigade in Wuxi on April 25.

With a cab on both ends, the truck can reverse without turning around in narrow lanes, allowing it to arrive at emergency sites more quickly.

According to Zhang Helei, captain of the Jianzhu Road detachment, the double-headed fire engine was produced by Man Group in Germany, and is the first of its kind in Wuxi. The main cab can hold six firemen.

In emergency situations, the driver can change the direction via a hand gear and steer the truck in the sub-cab at the other end of the vehicle, eliminating the hassle of turning around.

The wheels of the double-headed truck have some distinct features. Normal trucks can only turn the front wheels, while the double-headed truck can turn all four. It can move directly into the emergency lane when in a traffic jam.

In addition, a fire-fighting robot appeared along with the double-headed fire engine. The robot is mainly used in fires caused by chemical product explosions, when it is difficult for firemen to get close. The camera on the robot is capable of thermal imagery and night vision, which is helpful when searching for and rescuing trapped people.