Murray Bridge CFS will get new rapid response vehicle
The Murray Bridge Country Fire Service will benefit from a $198,000 state government investment.
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The Country Fire Service brigade in Murray Bridge will be on the scene quicker and more efficiently after receiving a new quick response vehicle, or QRV.
The local brigade will be one of 35 across South Australia to receive a new Toyota 79 Series Landcruiser, fixed with essential equipment.
Each QRV has a value of about $193,000, with the total rollout worth an estimated $6.8 million.
The new vehicle will arrive before the start of the next fire season, reinforcing that brigades will have the capacity to act effectively in the case of an emergency.
Murray Bridge brigade captain Jiron Blacket said it was great to get new equipment for the station.
This would be the fourth new vehicle the brigade had gained in the 12 years he had been captain, he said.
"With our current QRV's we've missed out on a few things ... so this brings the standard across all trucks," he said.
"It also allows for more flexibility when there's limited crew responding to an incident.
"We went through a consultation process with the volunteers to see what we didn't like about the current design and what we wanted to see for the new ones."
From the pictures released so far, it looked like the government had listened to what had been said, he said.
The new QRV will come equipped with essential operational tools, including a manual hose reel, a driving light bar, in-cabin pump start, and scene/perimeter lighting on both sides.
To further support the CFS’ field operations, each QRV will include a 20L fridge, a 240-volt inverter for battery chainsaw charging and in-station charging compatibility.
Mr Blacket hoped that the Murray Bridge station could keep its current QRV on top of the new addition.
The ultra-light tankers are engineered for agility and rapid response, equipped with a turbocharged diesel engine, making it ideal for rapid deployment in rugged terrain.
CFS Deputy Chief Officer Brenton Hastie said the vehicles would mainly be used to combat grass and scrub fires in hard-to-access areas.
“They feature fire apparatus safety systems such as in-cabin water system covering all windows, an in-cab breathing system, and radiant heat curtains in-cab, covering front and side windows," he said.
“The modular stowage system and integrated telecommunications make them highly adaptable for local brigade needs.”
Other brigades in the area receiving a QRV include Strathalbyn, Mount Barker and Langhorne Creek.
The Murray Bridge CFS are always on the lookout for more volunteers, too.
- Volunteer with the CFS: Visit www.cfs.sa.gov.au/volunteer, attend a training night at 7pm on a Tuesday at 138 Thomas Street, or call Jiron Blacket on 0457 560 125.
