Green Goddess

The Green Goddess is the colloquial name for the RLHZ Self Propelled Pump manufactured by Bedford Vehicles, a fire engine used originally by the British Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), and latterly held in reserve by the Home Office until 2004, and available when required to deal with exceptional events, including being operated by the British Armed Forces during firefighters' strikes (1977 and 2002). These green-painted vehicles were built between 1953 and 1956 for the AFS. The design was based on a Bedford RL series British military truck.

Auxiliary Fire Service

The Auxiliary Fire Service, first established in 1938 and amalgamated into the National Fire Service during World War II, was re-established as a voluntary service in 1948 alongside the Civil Defence Corps as part of civil defence preparations during the early stages of the Cold War, with subsequent events such as the Soviet Union detonating an atomic bomb making their presence supporting civilians as part of Britain's civil defence an important role. In a report to the Civil Service by the Strath Committee, which was kept secret from the general population, it was thought that a nuclear attack on Britain would cause firestorms in major cities, which would overwhelm the ordinary fire service, so a large stock of basic fire engines was ordered to form a reserve capacity.

The Green Goddess machines were not primarily fire engines (AFS members referred to them as "appliances"), instead being titled "self-propelled pumps", with some being two-wheel drive (4×2), and others in four-wheel drive (4×4) configuration. In the event of a nuclear attack on Britain, as part of a 125-vehicle AFS 'Mobile Column', Green Goddess appliances were to be deployed in a relay system of up to 20 miles (32 km) to pump huge quantities of water from lakes, rivers, canals and other sources to regular firefighters in affected cities. Supported by AFS Land Rover or Austin Gipsy command cars equipped with barometers for deployment uphill or downhill, Green Goddesses were stationed at regular intervals to boost water pressure; to transport large volumes of water from beaches or estuaries, three inflatable rafts equipped with portable pumps were provided on the back of Bedford RL or Commer Q4 'Transportable Water Unit' flatbeds, known informally as the 'Bikini Unit'. Firefighting was a secondary role.

The Green Goddess remained in continuous use by the AFS, regularly being deployed on training exercises, until the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps and the AFS in 1968 by the government of Harold Wilson due to high costs and a lack of volunteers, having disbanded the Rescue Section and Ambulance and First Aid Section two years prior.

Technical specifications

Unlike modern engines, Green Goddesses had no radio, no cutting equipment, no power steering and only a single ladder, and were relatively slow with a maximum speed of around 65 mph (105 km/h), a comfortable cruising speed of 45 mph (70 km/h), and they were sensitive on corners.