Whether Tornadoes or Flash Floods – Bobcat Loaders Support Firefighters in Czechia

Posted: 27 July 2022

Bobcat loaders are sought-after machines, especially in the construction industry. But they also play an essential role in many other areas. For 10 years now, 13 Bobcat S650 skid-steer loaders have been supporting the Fire Service of the Czech Republic. During that time they have performed outstandingly in all kinds of operations, including major floods, traffic accidents or the recent tornado in Moravia, a region in the east of the country.

The Bobcat loaders were purchased in 2012 by the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. This was made possible in part by the use of the European Union’s Structural Funds. The Bobcat loaders and their attachments are now used in almost every region of the Czech Republic – for transporting materials during operations and for building earth walls after floods, as well as for removing debris when searching for and rescuing disaster victims. The machines are fitted with robust, highly durable tires to minimize the risk of punctures. Among the attachments, 4-in-1 combination buckets, industrial grapples, breakers and sweepers are most commonly used in rescue work.

In use for 10 years

The Fire Service’s loaders have proven their worth in many operations on an almost daily basis. Over the past 10 years, they have been indispensable helpers in numerous crisis situations. They were used, for example, to clear debris after the massive explosion at the ammunition depot in Vrbětice in 2014 and to support the operations after the tornado in Moravia in 2021. They also help out in the event of flash floods, which unfortunately occur regularly in the Czech Republic.

At the Fire Rescue Service in the Olomouc region, the Bobcat S650 loader is mainly used for emergencies caused by natural disasters. “The S650 is a versatile and durable tool in firefighting. Without its power and flexibility, we would have been dealing with some of the aftermath of out-of-the-ordinary operations for much longer. Thanks to its versatility, we even use the S650 for innovative and unique procedures when fighting fires, such as evacuating fire-prone vehicles from inaccessible areas,” explains Lt. Mgr. Lucie Balážová, spokesperson of the Olomouc region’s Fire Rescue Service.

“The S650 is a great aid, which we initially used for development work at our station and, over time, also for operations, where it has proven itself to be very useful. It has excellent off-road capability, offers high performance and is amazingly versatile – we use a range of attachments for loading, sweeping and working with pallets. It’s also extremely reliable,” says Lt. Col. Jaroslav Mikoška, spokesperson of the Fire Rescue Service of the region of South Moravia.

The Bobcat loaders did a great job in clearing the debris and devastation caused by the tornado in Moravia. They were in action for days, working reliably and almost without a break. Tomáš Grošek, operations engineer, explains: “In this operation, the Bobcat S650s proved to be excellent helpers, not only for us, but also for the residents of the affected areas who needed their services the most.”