10/06/2026
Portsmouth’s “voice has been heard” after the city regained a working high-rise fire rescue truck, with another one from the Isle of Wight potentially on the way.
It was reported in early May that the city had been left without an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP), a specialist vehicle for rescues in high-rise buildings.
The 19-year-old ALP at Southsea Fire Station had previously been thought beyond repair, but the fire service has since confirmed it is restored to full working order.
The vehicle uses a hydraulic arm, rescue cage and ladder to allow firefighters to reach areas typically between 30 and 40 metres high – normally tall buildings.
Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, raised the alarm in a letter to Hampshire Fire and Isle of Wight Rescue Service on 5 May.
He raised fears over the nearest working ALP being in Southampton at the time, citing the “large number of high rise buildings” in the city alongside the major events Portsmouth hosts, its historically important buildings and the naval base.
He speculated that in heavy traffic an ALP travelling from Southampton could take up to an hour to arrive, which he described as “not acceptable”.
Cllr Pitt suggested replacing Southsea’s ALP with one based in Basingstoke, and in turn replacing Basingstoke’s with an ALP from the Isle of Wight that has been effectively “mothballed”.
However, Hampshire Fire Authority has clarified that the ALP at Southsea remains available, and that it will consult the public on whether to transfer another ALP from the Isle of Wight.
A spokesperson said: “An ALP is a specialist vehicle, which not every Fire and Rescue Service operates. They are one of many tools we use during incidents and this is reflected in the types of incidents we usually send them to.
“Their availability does not affect our immediate response to emergency incidents; especially high-rise fires where firefighting is mainly undertaken inside the building.
“We have four ALPs in operation across the service area, and the location and any movement of these is based on risk.
“The ALP based at Southsea Fire Station remains available to respond to incidents.
“We have recently undertaken a public consultation to move the second ALP from the Isle of Wight to Hampshire. This will be based at Southsea Fire Station, replacing the current vehicle, once specific training is delivered to crews.
“The Isle of Wight ALPs differ from those on the mainland as they were procured before our combination. A project is underway to deliver this training and facilitate the move.”
Reacting to the news, Cllr Pitt said it was “brilliant that the city’s voice has been heard,” adding it must be “reassuring” news for residents living in high-rise buildings across the city.
He noted that discussions with the fire service had been “positive throughout” and expressed his belief that Hampshire councils and MPs should collectively lobby the government for increased fire service funding.
✍Original copy by Toby Paine, Local Democracy Reporter
