Earlier this month, Romsey Fire Brigade received the keys to their new medium tanker, celebrating the official handover with brigade members and Member for Macedon Mary-Ann Thomas.
The new vehicle will enhance firefighter safety and firefighting capabilities, ensuring the 44-member brigade can continue to deliver high quality emergency support to those who need it most.
Romsey Fire Brigade Captain Nic Needham praised the new tanker’s capabilities, stating it was a fantastic addition to the fleet prior to the upcoming fire season.
“The Hino GT medium tanker provides almost 2500 litres of useable firefighting water,” he said.
“It has a front-mounted monitor (suppression system) which allows for in-vehicle firefighting, and a 4WD crew cabin, which allows a crew of five to travel safely together in the cabin and greater off-road capability.
“All of the members are super excited to have a new vehicle. The vehicle couldn’t arrive at a more opportune time, and to be able to put it online prior to the fire season is a real plus.
“It gives us an operating platform to work from and allows us to switch out whether we send tanker one or tanker two on strike teams, giving us more capacity.”
The brigade averages 85 call outs per year, and thanks to the new addition, now boasts four firefighting vehicles, alongside its existing light pumper, heavy tanker, and brigade-funded forward control vehicle.
Mr Needham said the new tanker would be replacing a single cab tanker, and give the brigade the ability to continue to protect its town, even if other vehicles were out on a call.
“The new tanker replaces a single-cab two-wheel drive tanker and was purchased via the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), with a total cost of $392,000 and a generous brigade contribution of $58,000,” he said.
“If the pumper and tanker attend a callout, it gives us the ability to leave a firefighting appliance in the town that can provide coverage from a structural and wildfire perspective.”
