THE fire service has a new engine ­— and you could choose its name.

Following the success of the Stinger fire engine, based at Blackburn Fire Station, the decision was made to purchase an additional appliance.

The Stinger got its name due to the 45cm piercing spike that fires from the extendable arm to pierce through slate and other material to fight fires without having to send firefighters into potentially unsafe structures.

The second Stinger, Stinger 2, has battery powered road traffic collision cutting equipment, thermal imaging monitor and HD camera which can also be controlled wirelessly.

Chief Fire Officer, Justin Johnston, said: “We loved seeing how inventive people got with Doncaster’s gritting machine and Wyre councils’ road sweeper name competition so we’re very excited to see what the people of Lancashire come up with for our second Stinger appliance.

“The Stinger has so many features that we are looking forward to seeing some inventive names.”

The Stinger offers exceptional versatility, serving as a ‘regular’ fire engine to transport and equip firefighters to deal with house fires, road traffic collisions and the range of emergencies likely to come their way whilst additionally providing a facility to jet water a distance of 80 metres onto a fire from a maximum height of 16.5 metres.

Additionally, a hydraulically-powered ‘Stinger’ spike mounted on the articulated boom of the appliance can drive through slates, tiles and other building composites, spraying water jets onto the fire within a compartment.

The naming competition will run on the LFRS facebook page until September 18 when the entries will then be taken to a panel of judges and a winner will get to see the new name added to the fire engine at Skelmersdale Fire Station.

Entries from people of all ages are welcomed however LFRS are keen to see some imaginative names rather than Stingy McSting Face.