CFA is bulking up its water supply this fire season with an additional $17.35 million invested for improved reliability and availability of water supplies for firefighting in areas with low access to water.
CFA’s Elevated Seasonal Response Initiative will be running for the second year, which will include:
- 22 bulk water operational bases across Victoria
- 10 x 100,000 litres of water storage tanks installed in strategic locations
- 4 x 26,000 litre open top mobile water modules
- 2 x 16,000 litre closed top mobile water modules
- 3 x 26,000 litre bulk water semi-trailers
- 2 x 5,000 litre diesel transport vehicles
- 5 x hook-lift trucks for rapid deployment of the closed and open top mobile water modules.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan AFSM said CFA sought the extra targeted funding from Government following the success of last year’s readiness program and in consideration to advice from the bureau for a potential record breaking El Niño outlook this fire season.
“We’re expecting another high-risk fire season this summer, so this investment is focused on strengthening CFA’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from increasingly frequent and severe emergency events,” Jason said.
“This initiative builds on last year’s funding to establish not only vital water supply but also assist with a range of factors including fuel supply, hazard reduction, asset protection, recovery operations, catering arrangements, and much more.
“These measures will ultimately improve operational readiness, increase community protection, support firefighter safety and wellbeing, and strengthen CFA’s capability to respond to emergencies during periods of heightened fire danger.
“We have committed a large portion of the funding towards the mobile bulk water carriers which will dramatically reduce the time taken by firefighters to search for and collect water during firefighting operations.
“The water assets will also support operational response arrangements, staging areas and reduce the usage of critical drinking water supplies of the community.”
The success of the program during last year’s devastating fire season included:
- 19 contracted bulk water operational bases across Victoria
- Bulk water carriers were activated for 44 days over a 98 day period
- More than 1,353 operation hours logged by bulk water carriers
- 100,000 litres worth of water storage tanks installed in 10 strategic locations
- Kerang was the most utilised bulk water carrier operating base
- Seymour was the most deployed bulk-water resource (deployed 11 times)
The Government’s funding to CFA last season and this season will secure CFA’s operations and safeguard against future drought and dry seasons.
