The fire and rescue service of the Pardubice-based company Paramo has taken delivery of a new KHA 60 fire engine designed for responding to industrial accidents. The new equipment represents a significant step towards further improving safety in chemical production and protecting both employees and the surrounding area. The handover ceremony took place at the Paramo site, attended by representatives of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group and the company’s fire brigade.
“Safety has long been one of the top priorities for the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. The ongoing renewal of our firefighting equipment is an essential part of our responsible approach to ensuring the safe operation of our production facilities. The new vehicle significantly enhances our response capabilities and enables firefighters to respond more quickly, effectively, and safely,” said Milan Brejchal, a member of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s Board of Directors responsible for production.
The new vehicle weighs 26 tonnes and is equipped with a powerful pump. It has large reserves of water, foam concentrate and dry powder. Compared to the original vehicle, it offers not only greater performance but also space for a four-person crew. Two monitors, one for water and one for powder, are mounted on the roof, enabling effective intervention. Water filling is handled hydraulically, which increases operator safety and facilitates connection to a hydrant even at high pressure.
“This fire engine represents a major technological leap forward for us. Thanks to its high performance and large supply of extinguishing agents, we are able to handle even the most demanding operations during industrial accidents more quickly and with a higher level of safety for both the crew and the surrounding area. Another significant advantage is the much more powerful remote-controlled monitor, which enables effective intervention in large-scale fires from a greater distance, thereby increasing the safety of the firefighters on the scene,” explains Aleš Doležal, commander of the Paramo Fire and Rescue Service.
The investment in the new fire engine exceeded 10 million crowns. The Paramo Fire and Rescue Service now has unique equipment at its disposal. It is the only service in the Pardubice Region to have this type of vehicle, including a spare unit.
The handover ceremony was accompanied by a presentation of the new vehicle and a demonstration of the emergency response equipment. The new vehicle is a further step in the systematic modernisation of the company’s fire brigade equipment and significantly contributes to the high safety standards of Paramo’s operations and those of the entire ORLEN Unipetrol Group.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research center in Brno and the engineering design company ORLEN Projekt. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 3,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. A testament to the high quality of employee care is the prestigious international Top Employer certification, which the Group received in 2023, 2024 and 2025, along with several national awards. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl,
spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz