German firefighters take Liebherr

Bochum Fire Brigade in Germany has purchased a 70 tonne capacity LTM 1070-4.2 fire brigade crane. The unit will replace the brigade's Liebherr LT 1045 crane, now 28 years old and in action since 1981.

The 50 m telescopic boom of the LTM 1070-4.2 is designed for fires in tall buildings or when houses are not directly accessible from the street. It can also reach across a roof to the rear of a building, with rescue cage attached.

The 4-axle crane weighs 48 tonnes fully equipped and can carry 10 tonnes of counterweight. Mounted on the rear of the vehicle is a recovery capstan winch with a line pull of 80 kN, and an electric remote control.

Specialist electrical equipment includes blue all-round identification lights, sirens, electrically adjustable operational searchlights on the base section, more searchlights on the boom head and reversing spotlights secured on the mounts of the external mirrors.

Mounted on the front of the vehicle is a 30 tonne load cross-member, which can be extented to 3.5 m to recover trucks that have turned on their side, for example.

Bochum Fire Brigade also provides support for the Bochum public transport service. Projects include derailed trams.