A new vehicle joined the fleet of the Vatican City Fire Service; it is a Falcon Fire Fighting built by Iveco Magirus, a member of the Iveco group, which operates in the field of fire fighting appliances.

The vehicle was delivered to Pope Benedict XVI in a ceremony held at the Vatican by Iveco Managing Director, Paolo Monferino, and by Andrea Comba, Chairman of the CRT Foundation, and represents a tribute to the Pope from the working world, but also a valid contribution to the Vatican’s Civil Protection service. The initiative was the result of a collaboration agreement between Iveco and the CRT Foundation which has for some time been operating in partnership with Piedmontese vehicle manufacturers, providing grants to subsidise the purchase of Civil Protection vehicles.

The Falcon 1000 donated to the Pope is the first of a new model designed specifically to operate in difficult road conditions. Kitted out with a comprehensive array of modern fire-fighting equipment, its compact size and excellent manoeuvring make the vehicle particularly suitable for use in narrow streets, guaranteeing top performance for emergencies in places where access is restricted. The Falcon 1000 was designed to be first on the scene to keep a fire in check; it is built on a Daily chassis with crew cab and 2 doors on either side, and can carry a team of 6. It is therefore a perfect combination of a fire-fighting and a rescue vehicle, which can respond rapidly to any emergency in an urban environment.

Iveco Magirus

Iveco Magirus is a leader of the fire-fighting market, with branches in Germany (Iveco Magirus Brandschuetztechnich) Italy (Iveco Mezzi Speciali), France (Camiva) and Austria (Lohr Magirus); over the years it has enjoyed great success and popularity on the market, becoming European market leader and one of the world’s most important companies in this sector.
 

With six manufacturing plants in Europe, the four companies market a comprehensive range of fire-fighting and emergency vehicles – for all applications and all uses – responding to all the market’s requirements. Iveco Magirus operates all over the world and collaborates actively with fire services from Siberia to Africa, China and Japan, as well as Europe where it has its roots and where its structure is particularly extensive. The various operating centres develop high tech products: turntable ladders up to 55 metres high with electronic anti-vibration systems, which are undisputed world leaders, airport vehicles which are now found in all the major international airports, but also special applications for the most varied, complex uses. Its fire-fighting vehicles and the other ranges of Special Vehicles are an important asset for Iveco all over the world.

The CRT Foundation

The CRT Foundation was created in 1991 when the Cassa di Risparmio di Torino bank was privatised. Today, it is a private no-profit organisation whose activities embrace all social sectors in Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta: from the conservation and promotion of the artistic heritage and cultural activities to scientific research; teaching and training in the field of healthcare and assistance to weaker social categories; civil protection and defence of the environment, innovation in local government and support to economic development. After almost fifteen years of constant commitment, the CRT Foundation is now a leading player in the economic, social and cultural development of the territory in which it is traditionally most active, with a total investment of Euro 600 million. The continuity and size of this commitment make the CRT Foundation a prime mover for the development of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta.