One of six ultra-large Tatra firefighting trucks to be delivered across NSW now has a new home in the Illawarra region.
The Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade has taken delivery of the truck, the first of its kind for NSW, to take part in a trial to test next-generation firefighting vehicles for the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
The new $800,000 truck is one of six Tatra vehicles to be trialled across the state as part of the RFS Next Generation Fleet Project, which aims to test and develop the next wave of modern firefighting appliances.
The high-performance 4×4 Tatra truck offers a combination of performance, water capacity and pumping power as well as advanced safety like the halo water protection system for the cabin.
“The delivery of this new Tatra truck is about making sure our hard-working RFS crews have the tools they need to protect the community,” said Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib.
“Communities like those in the Illawarra, who have seen the devastating impacts of bushfire firsthand, can be assured that their local crews are backed by the strongest truck capabilities we’ve ever had in the RFS.”
Building on the NSW Bushfire Inquiry and other inquiry recommendations to modernise the RFS fleet, the trucks are equipped with Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) to improve crews’ communication, connectivity and safety in remote and disaster-impacted areas.
Since the inquiry, the NSW Government has overhauled bushfire policy, preparedness and response, and is acting on all of the resulting 76 recommendations, including implementing night-time waterbombing.
“We listened to the experts and have acted on every recommendation from the NSW Bushfire Inquiry. Some long-term initiatives will take some time to complete but are already well underway,” said Minister Dib.
RFS Illawarra/Sutherland District Manager, Superintendent Martin Surrey said the Gerringong Brigade has already put the new truck to work, including one call-out where the front-mounted water cannon was used to great effect.
“The region has experienced some challenging fire seasons, and our brigades know how quickly conditions can change,” he said.
“Every new piece of equipment, every training opportunity and every innovation is an investment in the safety of our volunteers and the towns and communities they protect.”
Residents can get information about preparing their properties and bush fire survival plan on the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/prepare.
