BEATTIE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR RURAL FIREFIGHTERS

More than 50 new fire trucks are currently being built to provide the State’s rural firefighters with the latest equipment and technology, Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell said today.

Speaking in State Parliament, Mr Purcell said that construction was under way on 53 emergency response vehicles for the Rural Fire Service, including 40 medium attack units, 5 heavy attack vehicles and 8 light attack vehicles.

“Volunteer members of Rural Fire Brigades provide a vital service to their communities, either as first responders in an emergency situation or assisting their full-time counterparts,” Mr Purcell said.

“The new vehicles are worth nearly $4 million and, with the exception of the 5 heavy attack vehicles, they are being constructed by a Crows Nest based company, AAA (Triple A) Engineering Technologies. They will be distributed to brigades throughout Queensland over the coming 12 months.

“The Rural Fire Service recently completed its 5 year Veteran Replacement Program for ageing vehicles. With that program now complete, these additional vehicles will add to the fleet and ensure volunteers are supplied with the latest equipment and technology.

“As evidence of the Beattie Government’s commitment to funding new vehicles, only 2 per cent of the entire fleet of rural fire vehicles are more than 21 years old, a massive reduction from 40 per cent in 1998.”

Mr Purcell said that right across Queensland the more than 1500 Rural Fire Brigades were currently in the middle of what was shaping up as a longer-than-usual bushfire season.

“Current dry conditions suggest they will be busy for some time yet. In fact, since early August these volunteers have attended more than 550 bush and grass fires throughout the state,” he said.

“I call on all Queenslanders, particularly those who live in the rural-urban fringe – the i-Zone – to do their bit to assist our firies and make sure that their home and property is bushfire prepared.

"Our firefighting men and women play an important role in protecting their communities and the Beattie Government will continue to ensure they are well equipped for that challenge,” Mr Purcell concluded.

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.