Australia’s first electric fire truck is to make its home in the ACT next year with features to improve firefighter safety and reduce fatigue.
Announcing the new truck, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman said the ACT Emergency Services Agency signed an agreement with Rosenbauer to deliver the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Fire Truck.
“The ACT (is) leading the nation in showing how emergency services organisations can transition to zero-emissions fleets,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Transitioning just one of our existing trucks to an Electric Fire Truck is forecast to reduce diesel fuel consumption by about 185,000 litres over a 10-year period,” he said.
“The new Truck will also include a range of features to ensure the safety and comfort of ACT Fire & Rescue firefighters.”
Mr Gentleman said the Fire Truck featured a walk-in, walk-out entry to support firefighters’ backs and knees as they entered and exited the vehicle.
The Minister said the safety and comfort of firefighters were at the forefront of the new Truck’s design, which was expected to feature a better use of internal space and greater crew protection in comparison to existing vehicles in the ACT Fire & Rescue fleet.
Secretary of the ACT United Firefighters Union (ACT UFU), Greg McConville welcomed the announcement of the new Truck, which he said would enhance the operational capability and safety of firefighters.
“This new electric firefighting appliance represents not just a major advancement in environmental sustainability, but in technical innovation in firefighting,” Mr McConville said.
“It incorporates highly advanced communications and monitoring systems, including potential integration with drone technology, which will allow firefighters to gather important intelligence on the incident prior to arriving on scene,” he said.
Mr McConville said the Union was also pleased about specific features designed to improve firefighter safety and to reduce fatigue, including pivoting seats “which would allow up to four firefighters to speak face to face and plan their approach before exiting the vehicle at an incident.
