New wheels for firies

MEMBERS of Smythesdale Fire Brigade were given the keys to a new field command vehicle as part of a handover during the weekend.

CFA District 15 commander Steve Poulter handed over the $88,000 Ford Ranger 4×4 to the brigade’s Captain, Alwyn Parker.

Purchased through the State Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program, Captain Parker said the vehicle marks an essential replacement for the team.

“It’s to take over from the old one we had which is approximately seven years old,” he said.

“The new vehicle will have an eight-year span. Over a period of time, we’ve had five replacements.

“With the modern equipment that CFA introduce all the time, this is purpose-built, and everything’s standard built now when you go on to the fire ground.”

The vehicle will be used as an onsite point of contact during fire emergencies with portable equipment like radios and whiteboard in place to direct brigade members and vehicles.

“It’s an asset not just for local jobs but it transports firefighters when they go away on strike teams and to assist in other areas,” Captain Parker said.

“During the fire danger period, our previous one was on call all the time.”

The VESEP grant covered nearly $40,000 for the vehicle while brigade members raised $50,000 themselves to cover the remainder, which included selling off the preceding unit.

Captain Parker said the initiative to obtain the new wheels has been a great collaboration between government, the CFA, and local volunteers.

“It’s been a great concept, the VESEP program, to be able to engage the brigade with fundraising effort as well as support from the CFA and government to replace these vehicles,” he said.

“We do a lot of fundraising as far as calendar drive. We do a sausage sizzle at the local supermarket once a month plus we’re always looking for community grants and so forth.”

The Smythesdale Fire Brigade responds to an average of 100 incidents each year, and currently has 84 members, 43 of whom are operational.