Romsey brigade receives keys to its new tanker

Local member Mary-Anne Thomas MP officially handed over the keys to the medium tanker to brigade members on Thursday 3 October.  

Romsey Fire Brigade Captain Nic Needham said the new vehicle will enhance firefighter safety with modern features.  

“The Hino GT medium tanker provides almost 2,500 litres of useable firefighting water,” Nic said.   

“It has 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.” 

Averaging 85 callouts per year, and with 44 brigade members, Nic said the new tanker is a fantastic addition to the fleet before the upcoming fire season.  

“All of the members are super excited to have a new vehicle,” he said. 

“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."

Already allocated a light pumper, heavy tanker and a brigade funded forward control vehicle (FCV), the brigade is looking forward to further supporting its catchment with its new brigade tanker. 

The new tanker replaces a single-cab two-wheel drive tanker and was purchased through the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), with a total cost of $392,000 and a generous brigade contribution of $58,000. 

“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,” Nic said.