The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has launched trials of modified firefighting trucks in Esperance, testing the performance of enhanced safety measures including different tyres and in-cab equipment.
Assistant Commissioner of Asset Management at DFES, Brad Delavale said the Department had been working closely with the Shire of Esperance and volunteer brigades to improve the all-terrain capability of its firefighting fleet.
“The Shire of Esperance’s unique terrain of sandy dunes, dense bushland and soft farmland soil due to changing farming practices has posed challenges when responding to bushfires,” Assistant Commissioner Delavale said.
“The aim of these trials is to identify and test innovations that will enhance the firefighting fleets’ ability to respond to difficult-to-access areas.”
He said a DFES 3.4 Urban Tanker had been fitted with a central tyre inflation feature to allow firefighters to control the tyre pressure from within the cab while moving.
“This provides an opportunity to reduce the amount of time it takes firefighters to deflate and inflate tyres which will improve safety and increase mobility at an incident,” Assistant Commissioner Delavale said.
“A 4.4 Broadacre Tanker is also being fitted with super single tyres to assess their suitability on and off-road, particularly on softer soil.”
He said the trials would be monitored closely, and if successful could be expanded into the State’s firefighting fleet.
“Safety is our top priority, so if these vehicle modifications mean we can better meet the operational needs of volunteers at the same time as improving their safety and the safety of the broader community, that’s a great outcome,” Assistant Commissioner Delavale said.
“Under the Department’s Operational Fleet Project, volunteer and career firefighters are now much more closely engaged in the design and delivery of our operational fleet, helping to ensure appliances are tailored to the needs of frontline personnel,’ he said.
