Community donations from the 2019-20 fire season have been used to purchase eight new vehicles that will boost CFA’s capability to engage communities and ensure residents are as prepared as possible for fires.
The new roaming Mobile Engagement Units (MEU) are an added asset to help CFA members educate communities.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the vehicles will be placed in strategic locations across Victoria.
“There will be a vehicle located in each of CFA’s five regions and the remaining three vehicles available for members on request,” CO Heffernan said.
“There are many features that will be a great benefit for CFA members including a large TV screen on the side of the vans which shows high quality digital content and our campaign messaging.
“A PA system and an awning attached to the side of the van will also be incredibly beneficial for those having conversations with our communities, while the vans will also be equipped with a defibrillator.
“The CFA mission is to protect lives and property and the best way to do this is to prevent emergencies occurring in the first place, and ensuring people have the right information is a key part of that.”
CFA Board Chair Greg Wilson said it would not have been possible to build these vehicles without the generosity of the community.
“We were extremely grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support and donations over the extreme 2019-20 fire season,” Mr Wilson said.
“We are proud to see the results of that generosity now benefiting CFA volunteers and the community, and the delivery of these Mobile Engagement Units are one of the big projects to come from these donations.”
The MEUs are custom-fitted Ford Transit vans that can be driven with a regular licence.
One of the Mobile Engagement Units will be used for the first time at the Yea Show on 26 November.