New ‘Heavy Urban Pump Rescue’ truck to be delivered to Golden Grove MFS months into fire season

A NEW state-of-the-art MFS fire truck is expected to be delivered midway through the bushfire season, months later than first planned.

Metropolitan Fire Service trucks at the Wakefield St station. Picture: AAP/Russell Millard

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A NEW state-of-the-art Golden Grove MFS fire truck is expected to be delivered midway through the bushfire season, months later than first planned.

The station is one of six in the state to receive a “Heavy Urban Pump Rescue” truck – a 3000 litre capacity, rear-mount fire engine – designed to serve regions which cross between built-up metropolitan areas and country bushfire zones.

The fire truck was originally slated to be delivered by November but a Metropolitan Fire Service spokeswoman said the estimated time of arrival was now “late January or early February”.

Currently being built in New Zealand, the tanker is expected to be able to cut response times down, be fitted with the latest bushfire-protection technology and replace an existing tanker, which will be sent to another station.

MFS assistant chief fire officer Peter Mason said the new truck would complement Golden Grove’s role as a strike team in both metropolitan and country areas.

“The arrival of a new Heavy Urban Pump Rescue appliance will provide an enhanced road-crash rescue capability on an ongoing basis and additional firefighter protection during bushfires,” he said.

Ten new CFS trucks costing $3.5m will be delivered to brigades across the state in the next two months but locations are yet to be confirmed.

A CFS spokeswoman said information on truck locations was secret for now as they could change.

The bushfire season dates for the metropolitan area and the Mt Lofty Ranges have not yet been released.