There are demands for an inquiry into the state of Victoria’s firefighting resources, after a fire truck allegedly failed while attending a house fire in Truganina on Thursday night.
The United Firefighters Union (UFU) claims crews attending the fire at Prairie Place on April 4, were forced to enter the home and attempt to rescue occupants without water, after the pump on one of their trucks failed on arrival.
The union says the same truck has a history of faults.
UFU secretary Peter Marshall accused the government of failing to replace old trucks and equipment and said it was appalling that firefighters were being put at even greater risk as a result.
“The FRV Fleet is in a serious state of disrepair risking firefighters’ lives and the community,” Mr Marshall said.
“We are now calling for an immediate inquiry into the state of Victoria’s firefighting resources.”
Mr Marshall said the UFU and Fire Rescue Victoria had been warning the government for two years about old equipment needing to be replaced, but that Emergency Services Minister, Jaclyn Symes, had ignored the problem.
Minister Symes was contacted for comment.
An FRV spokesperson said they were investigating an issue with one pumper that was at the scene, but that it was one of many trucks that responded to the fire.
“Firefighting operations at the Truganina incident were successful, and incident logs indicate there were no reports of equipment faults impacting firefighter or community safety,” the spokesperson said.
Firefighters arrived on the scene just after 10pm on April 4 after receiving panicked calls describing the house as fully alight with children possibly trapped inside.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the home, but all four occupants had already self-evacuated.
One male resident was transported to hospital to be treated for burns, while two female occupants were treated for smoke inhalation.
It’s believed the fire started in a workshop at the home where a man was working before he
alerted the rest of the household to the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 11:16pm, about 30 minutes after fire crews arrived.
The home received extensive damage in the fire.
