- Government provides $1.8 million in new appliances to Pilbara volunteer fire crews
- Volunteer brigades in Karratha and Port Hedland set to benefit
- New appliances will enhance response to road crashes
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said $1.8 million worth of new appliances will support volunteer firefighters to provide a safer and more efficient response to serious road crashes in the Pilbara region.
Minister Dawson today handed over the keys for a new generation Urban Pump Heavy Rescue (Urban Pump) appliance to the Port Hedland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS), one of two delivered to the region today.
The Urban Pumps are equipped with heavy rescue equipment that Port Hedland VFRS previously had to store in a trailer. Having the equipment onboard the vehicle will support crews in their ability to respond to road crash rescues in an area with a high volume of heavy haulage traffic.
Karratha (VFRS) also received a new Urban Pump, which can respond to bushfires, structure fires, hazardous material incidents, and road crash rescues.
Both vehicles have been designed and built with input from firefighters, ensuring that the vehicles meet the needs of the volunteers who will use them to keep the community safe.
Port Hedland VFRS, which has been serving its community for nearly 60 years, has attended 53 incidents this year.
Karratha VFRS, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, has already responded to 114 incidents for the current financial year.
The Cook Government is investing more than $140 million into providing new equipment, resources, personal protective clothing, and facilities to support our frontline fire and emergency services.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
“These new appliances ensure our volunteers can continue to deliver an outstanding emergency response in the Pilbara region.
“The Pilbara region, as locals would know, has a high volume of heavy haulage traffic, and this can lead to serious traffic crashes on the major highways.
“The road network between the resources sector and the urban interface is now better resourced with these highly advanced appliances.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring our frontline fire and emergency crews have the right tools and resources to protect local communities and we’re investing many millions of dollars across the State to make this happen.
“The new generation of urban appliances have enhanced safety and response features making them the most advanced appliances in our fire and emergency services fleet.
“Port Hedland and Karratha VFRS are the first volunteer stations to receive the new generation of Urban Pumps Heavy Rescue appliances.”
As stated by Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
“It’s fantastic that our local Pilabra volunteers are receiving the next-generation Urban Pump appliances – the same they used across the Perth metropolitan region.
“It’s a significant enhancement that Port Hedland and Karratha VFRS will now have a firefighting vehicle equipped with heavy rescue equipment, removing the need to store this equipment in a trailer that had to be towed to incidents.
“These new trucks will be a real head turner around Karratha and Port Hedland over the coming years.”
