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Two Aebi Special Vehicles for Double the Power – On Duty with Grindelwald’s Fire Brigade

Surrounded by the impressive backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Grindelwald lies in the heart of the Swiss Alps. As picturesque as the setting may be, it presents tough challenges for the local fire brigade: narrow roads, steep gradients and hard-to-reach locations. With two Aebi transporters, the Grindelwald Fire Brigade is now fully equipped for operations in every corner of the valley.

"We rely on a vehicle with all-wheel steering that can take us to places the large fire truck simply cannot reach," explains Hans von Allmen, Commander of the Grindelwald/Lütschental Fire Brigade. "With the two Aebi VT 470 Vario vehicles, we have a reliable solution that allows us to get anywhere."

Compact, manoeuvrable and safe

For Thomas Brawand, an officer of the fire brigade, the VT 470 Vario stands out above all for its ease of use: "The controls are very straightforward. Even those who don’t drive the vehicle on a daily basis quickly know where everything is." The second factor for him is safety: "Thanks to the torsion damping system, we have excellent traction even on uneven ground. That makes you feel safe at all times in the vehicle."

A vehicle designed for the mountains

Both vehicles are built on the Aebi VT 470 Vario chassis, complemented by a custom body from FEUERWEHRtech AG, specialists in firefighting equipment. "The Aebi chassis allowed us to build very light and compact," explains Martin Rohrer, Head of Sales at FEUERWEHRtech. "This makes it extremely agile – a key advantage on the narrow mountain roads with their steep slopes and tight bends. On top of that, we were able to integrate a 2,500-litre water tank with a pump capacity of 2,000 litres per minute at 10 bar, while still keeping the total weight below 9,000 kg – including all fire and rescue equipment."

A powerhouse for hard-to-reach operations

Compact, highly manoeuvrable yet carrying a large water capacity – this combination gives the Grindelwald/Lütschental Fire Brigade a decisive advantage in an emergency. "With 2,500 litres of water on board and the compact build, we achieve an exceptionally high level of operational power," Rohrer summarises. This performance is particularly crucial in the more inaccessible parts of the valley.

Tailor-made solutions for demanding missions

This project highlights just how versatile the Aebi transporter can be. Through close cooperation with partners such as FEUERWEHRtech AG, tailor-made solutions are created to meet customer needs. Especially in alpine regions like Grindelwald, it is vital to combine technology with performance.

Are you interested in learning how one of our vehicles can be adapted to your specific operational requirements? Contact us or FEUERWEHRtech AG directly – we would be delighted to advise you.