By Fatima Halloum and Millicent Spencer
Point Cook and Werribee Country Fire Authority (CFA) branches will each receive a new heavy tanker, in an effort to ensure firefighters are better equipped to battle blazes.
Point Cook and Werribee were two of 28 brigades chosen to receive the tankers, in the final phase of the replacement tanker roll out across the state.
CFA chief executive Jason Heffernan said tankers are a vital part of CFA’s fleet, with more than 1900 currently in operation across the state.
“These new tankers are state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles,” he said.
Mr Heffernan said the heavy tankers include features such as a 15-tonne crew-cab chassis with a 4000-litre water tank, a 4×4 capability and automatic transmission, which will assist crews with accessing fires burning in difficult to reach terrain.
“They also include features such as electronic monitors and electric rewind hose reels, as well as using a higher percentage of recyclable build materials,” he said.
The CFA said the rollout of the new tankers is scheduled for completion by late 2023.
Mr Heffernan said the new heavy tankers also have a 1200 litre per minute diesel engine-driven fire-fighting pump, crew/vehicle roll over and burn-over protection, and full equipment stowage cache.
Manufacturing on the heavy tankers began in September 2021 at Sunshine North based manufacturer R.A Bell & Co., with 20 brigades already making use of their new vehicles.
It is expected that the final batch of tankers will be complete by September 2023 to be prepared for their subsequent roll out.
The new appliances have been funded through the state government’s $126m CFA Capability Funding package, announced in June 2020.
Other CFA’s set to receive a new heavy tanker include South Morang and Sunbury.
