For any fire department, the commissioning of a new vehicle or new equipment is an important milestone. Training is necessary; within a short time, the new device must be able to be operated safely in the field. And at the same time it also means saying goodbye from a vehicle which you have countless memories of and which has proven over decades why it is in service – to help people in need!

The Oftering Fire Department in Upper Austria also underwent such a generational change at the end of 2021. In addition to an important emergency vehicle, a portable fire pump was also decommissioned in the process. But this time it was not about the unit that was commissioned, but the unit that was being decommissioned.

A brief look into the past: When the new “LFB-A” (fire truck with rescue equipment and all-wheel drive as per Upper Austria construction guidelines) was put into service at the beginning of 1991, it was like a quantum leap for the Oftering Fire Department. Due to the poor water supply in the 13 km² rural community, the vehicle was equipped with over 800 m of B hoses (560 m of which were in bays for rapid deployment) and two portable fire pumps. In addition to the then already “old” VW 75 Automatic, a “new” FOX 1 was also put into service. But this one already had a colorful history at the time it was put into service. This is because the FOX 1 portable fire pump, which appears normal at first glance, has the serial number “001” on its nameplate.

It was first built in 1987 and was the first pump of a pre-series, consisting of 4 units, of this revolutionary new development, powered by a BMW motorcycle engine. The final endurance tests and standard tests were completed with the pre-series units. It was used for marketing purposes and also presented to the first interested customers.

Portable fire pump number 1 was used by Rosenbauer until 1990, when it was sold to the Oftering Fire Department. This was made possible by a Rosenbauer employee who was involved in the development of the FOX 1 and is also a member of the Oftering Fire Department.

No. 1 is the only remaining pre-series portable pump, and it differs in some details from the later series. Many minor improvements have been incorporated over the years, or built into this pump for the first time in order to get direct feedback from users.

The portable fire pump with a special history rendered extremely valuable service to the Oftering Fire Department and proved itself not only in numerous fires, but also, for example, during the two major Danube floods in 2002 and 2013. It was last used, as befits its status, at a major fire at a recycling plant in a neighboring community in October 2019. It was in continuous use for over 13 hours as a booster pump to supply water to the fire trucks.

But every era comes to an end at some point. At the respectable age of 34, it has now been decommissioned. However, the successor also has the same features as its predecessor. Powerful, compact, light, and easy to operate! This is because the Oftering Fire Department opted for the 4th generation of the FOX.

As a young, technologically advanced firefighter, the FOX 1 has always fascinated me. My first course at the regional fire department training school was the operators course, the content of which revolved a lot around the widely used portable fire pumps and taught the operators all the necessary tips and tricks. This was because operation with a hand throttle and choke required a well-trained operator. With the FOX 1, operation was very much manual work.

This pump probably laid the foundation for my affinity with Rosenbauer products – which I was then able to continue professionally years later. I took over product responsibility with the FOX 3 – while my fellow firefighter and colleague went into well-deserved retirement. So, since 1987, there has been a continuous and close connection between FOX portable fire pumps and members of the Oftering Volunteer Fire Department. It makes me all the more proud that the command then also opted for a current FOX when procuring a new one!