One of the first Ultra-heavy Tankers to be rolled out across Victoria
The first of 29 new Ultra-heavy Tankers are being rolled out soon to a brigade in Ballarat and another near Swan Hill which will help support firefighting efforts across Victoria.
The new 23-tonne Ultra-heavy Tankers have the capacity to carry 10,000 litres of water which is more than some of our water bombing fleet.
This will greatly boost our ability to fight fires in remote rural areas with open grasslands.
The tankers are being deployed predominately to brigades in the North West, South West and West regions.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said these new vehicles were a welcome addition to our firefighting fleet.
“There is potential for the Ultra-heavy Tankers to be used in an urban environment, but they are primarily designed for use in grass and general firefighting where there is limited access to reticulated water or large open water supplies,” CO Heffernan said.
“Earlier this year we saw how quickly and devastating grassfires can be due to the vegetation growth across Victoria.
“These new Ultra-heavy Tankers will help in those remote areas because of their increased capacity to carry water.”
The Ultra-heavy Tanker is a step up from the Heavy Tankers which carry 4000 litres of water.
The tankers have seating for three crew and include a bulbar-mounted remote-control monitor which can be operated from inside the cabin to distribute up to 450 litres of water per minute.
It also includes a 100-litre A-class foam tank to allow crews to work ahead of fire fronts and for blacking out.
The 29 Ultra Heavy Tankers will be rolled out across Victoria, to brigades around the Warrnambool, Wangaratta, Ballarat. Geelong, Horsham, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Bairnsdale and Bendigo areas.
The Victorian Government funded $12.835 million for the new vehicles.