SMALL FIRES in Liverpool could now be extinguished more quickly thanks to two new 'fire bikes' being trialled by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

Based on BMW's R1200RT, the £30,000 machines each carry two 25-litre canisters filled with water and foam and a high-powered 30m jet hose.

A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: "About 60 per cent of what we do is putting out "rubbish fires". These are fires that don't pose a threat to people or buildings. If approved this trial would enable us to buy more bikes and have them in stations where they have the highest incidences of these kind of fires. It is an expensive bike but then a fire appliance costs £250,000. It also means roads aren't blocked with 17 tonne fire engines which will be carrying life-saving equipment that could be used elsewhere."

  What an excellent idea, I hope it pays off                                                                                                                                                                              

Yea caught on TV, thought it's a brilliant use of a new resource, with a quicker arrive time no doubt.....