New fire trucks hit the road

FIRIES throughout the region have been handed the keys to a fleet of new fire trucks as part of a State Government drive to increase firefighting capabilities in Western Victoria.

Seven heavy tankers are being brought to brigades around the district while Ballarat City Fire Brigade will be the second station in Victoria to receive one of 29 ultra-heavy tankers.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the new vehicles will be a welcome addition to help prepare for the summer season.

“Earlier this year we saw how quickly and devastating grassfires can be due to the vegetation growth across Victoria,” he said.

“These new ultra-heavy tankers will help in those remote areas because of their increased capacity to carry water.

“Their 4×4 capability and automatic transmission will help crews access fires in difficult terrain.

“The heavy tankers also have a 1200 litres per minute diesel engine-driven firefighting pump, crew and vehicle rollover and burn over protection and full equipment stowage cache.”

Falling into the CFA’s District 15, the heavy tankers will be located at the Miners Rest, Napoleons-Enfield, Wendouree, Buninyong-Mount Helen, Creswick, Ballan, and Daylesford brigades.

With a 4000-litre tank, seating for three firefighters, the heavy tankers each feature a bulbar-mounted remote-control monitor capable of being used from within the cabin to let out more than 450 litres of water per minute.

The heavy and ultra-heavy tankers are costing the State Government $15 million.

The fleet was handed over last week following a visit to the Buninyong-Mount Helen Fire Brigade by Minister for Emergency Services, Jaclyn Symes.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, was present during the event and said the new tankers are a boost for local firefighters.

“I am pleased to see seven new heavy tankers delivered to CFA brigades in District 15, which I’m sure are welcome additions to the district’s firefighting fleet, including Wendouree,” she said.