BALLARAT Fire Brigade\u2019s newest appliance, a rescue unit, has been officially handed over to volunteers at their fire house on the weekend.<\/p>\n
The event took place at Ballarat East Fire Station on Sunday and involved dignitaries and members of the CFA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current rescue truck is 13 years old and it\u2019s due to be updated,\u201d Ballarat Fire Brigade Captain Mark Cartledge said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a project for about 12 months now, and we\u2019ve got it in the station today.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new unit is the fifth iteration of the brigade\u2019s rescue appliances spanning some 45 years.<\/p>\n
In that time road trauma rescue especially has gone from tow truck drivers and bystanders trying to free people trapped in car crashes with crowbars and hammers to the highly skilled discipline it is today.<\/p>\n
To get the new truck on the road it\u2019s taken about $600,000, funded by the TAC and the CFA, and the appliance comes with the latest kit.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a battery powered cutting tools meaning crews save time not setting up generators and pneumatic pumps, spreaders like the Jaws of Life, and directional LED lighting to help rescuers see better at the scene of night-time incidents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good thing with this type of gear is that it\u2019s state-of-the-art,\u201d said Region 15 Operation Officer Anthony Pearce. \u201cAs we evolve, every time we build a new fire truck or a specialist appliance, we make sure it\u2019s got the latest technology and equipment and it has got ergonomic designs so we\u2019re creating a safer workplace for our volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Fire Brigade\u2019s volunteer rescue crews work all over the region on motor vehicle crashes, industrial incidents, and many other types of high-risk callouts.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a job Mr Cartledge said they\u2019d prefer not to have to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be happy if the truck just sat there and didn\u2019t move at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Pearce urged people to listen to road safety messages, especially considering the bad start to the start to 2019 relating to road trauma, and the region\u2019s growing population<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important the community take heed of all the safety messages and drive appropriately so we don\u2019t have to expose our volunteers to trauma and drag them away from their families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Currently undergoing final fit out and testing, the new rescue unit is expected to be fully operational within the next few weeks. The brigade\u2019s old rescue unit will be redeployed to Ballan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Fire Brigade\u2019s newest appliance, a rescue unit, has been officially handed over to volunteers at their fire house on the weekend. The event took place at Ballarat East Fire Station on Sunday and involved dignitaries and members of the CFA. \u201cThe current rescue truck is 13 years old and it\u2019s due to be updated,\u201d […]<\/p>\n