New trucks boost fire brigade preparations

Preparations for the 2003 bush and grassfire season have been given a boost for 13 of the State's rural fire brigades who have recently, or will soon take delivery of new trucks worth almost $70,000 each.

And a further 23 brigades are set to receive an Isuzu-based Medium Response truck in coming months as part of a $2.5 million roll out of new state-of-the-art vehicles to rural fire brigades.

Emergency Services Minister Mike Reynolds said the delivery of the new Medium Response trucks comes just months after 21 other rural fire brigades shared more than $1 million worth of new Light Response Nissan Patrol vehicles.

The Medium Response vehicles, which have been developed with extensive input from volunteer firefighters, are fitted with a complete tray body and feature an 1800-litre water tank, pump, hoses and a range of ancillary equipment including knapsacks, drip torches, lights and siren, and two-way radios.

The first 13 vehicles have been allocated to (with local government areas in brackets): Myall Valley RFB (Rosalie/Jondaryan/Wambo) Cambooya RFB (Cambooya/Jondaryan) Mutdapilly RFB (Boonah/Ipswich) Glasshouse RFB (Caloundra) Logan Village RFB (Beaudesert/Gold Coast) Clagiraba RFB (Gold Coast) Cedar Creek/Wolffdene RFB (Gold Coast/Beaudesert) Blenheim RFB (Laidley) Woodhill RFB (Beaudesert) Moreton Island RFB (Brisbane) Taromeo RFB (Nanango/Esk/Crows Nest) Winfield RFB (Burnett) and Brooweena RFB (Woocoo).

Tinana RFB near Maryborough will soon take delivery of a new light response vehicle worth about $50,000. "Rural fire brigades and the State's 44,000-plus volunteer firefighters do a fantastic job and people all over Queensland should recognise their efforts," Mr Reynolds said.

"We are glad that we can provide these new vehicles to help make their job just that little bit easier."

Mr Reynolds said that the latest delivery of vehicles further assisted reduce the age of Queensland's rural fire fleet, with more than 60% of the State's more than 900-strong rural fire fleet now less than six years old.

The State Government has contributed 80% of the cost of each of the new trucks, with brigades raising the remaining 20%. Some of the brigades' funds have come from the State Government's Gaming Machine Community Benefit Fund, Rural Fire Levies collected by local councils and from local fundraising activities.

For more information contact Justin Coomber on 0407 130 287 or Karla Steen on 0407 582 041.