CFA will commence the final phase of its rollout to deliver fifty new replacement tankers to brigades across Victoria in a boost that ensures volunteer firefighter are well equipped to protect their communities.
The new appliances have been funded through the Victorian Government’s $126m CFA Capability Funding package, announced in June 2020.
The fleet of new dual-cab appliances includes 48 Heavy Tankers and two Light Tankers, all of which replace single-cab tankers and allow a full crew to sit within the cabin.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said tankers are a vital part of CFA’s fleet, with more than 1900 across the state.
“These new tankers are state-of-the-art firefighting vehicles,” said CO Heffernan.
“The Heavy Tankers feature a 15-tonne crew-cab chassis with a 4,000-litre water tank, while their 4×4 capability and automatic transmission will help crews access fires in difficult 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.”
Last year, CFA announced the first 20 heavy tankers as part of the rollout package will be allocated to the following brigades: Inglewood, Shoreham, Dunkeld, Buninyong, Mansfield, Merbein, Poowong, Penshurst, Ballan, Wangaratta, Caroline Springs, Hastings, Noorat, Creswick, Seymour, Junortoun, Moorooduc, Beaufort, Wallan and Irymple.
The final 28 heavy tankers and two light tankers will be delivered to selected brigades and the full rollout will be complete by late-2023 (full list below).
The Heavy Tankers also have a 1200 l/min diesel engine-driven fire-fighting pump, crew/vehicle roll over and burn-over protection, and full equipment stowage cache.
Manufacturing on the 48 Heavy Tankers began in September 2021 at Sunshine North manufacturer R.A Bell & Co., with the final vehicles expected to be complete in September 2023.
Construction of the two Light Tankers will commence at a later date.
The brigades that will receive the final 28 heavy tanker appliances are:
- Narre Warren North
- Heywood
- Dimboola
- Tatura
- Werribee
- Gembrook
- Ellerslie
- Avoca
- Shepparton
- Point Cook
- Morwell
- Connewarre
- Halls Gap
- The Basin
- Eaglehawk
- Tooradin
- Cobden
- South Warrandyte
- Golden Square
- Rosedale
- Rokewood
- Seville
- Mildura
- Maffra
- Winchelsea
- Olinda
- South Morang
- Sunbury
