Innovative firefighting equipment is being rolled out in Gravesend and Dartford.

From an all terrain vehicle to specialist technology which can cut through concrete and rapidly reduce the temperature of building fires.

Dartford crews will soon be using an all terrain vehicle which can access rural areas, such as woodland, which are difficult to get to with a normal fire engine.

They will be used to fight countryside fires but can also be equipped with a plough and tracks to enable their use during periods of severe weather.

Meanwhile, both Dartford and Thames-side fire stations will be receiving new fire engines equipped with a groundbreaking firefighting system which enables firefighters to begin tackling structural fires while remaining outside.

It uses a fraction of the water of a traditional hose and so generally would cause less damage and save more of the property.

Kent Fire and Rescue’s Chris Colgan said: "The lance blasts aggregate into the structure, creating a small hole which we can then put a super fine mist of water through.

"This reduces the temperature of the fire by several hundred degrees within seconds which not only drastically reduces the damage the fire can cause, but also helps firefighters by lowering the risk of backdrafts and flashovers."

The all terrain vehicle in Dartford will be complimented by a new 4X4 vehicle equipped with a fire-fogging unit – a high-powered hose that can reach inaccessible areas and fight woodland and grassland fires far quicker than a traditional engine.