South Australian Country Fire Services complete roll out of new vehicles and equipment

They’ve been using equipment rolled out in the aftermath of Ash Wednesday. Now Santa has delivered our fireys a much needed gift.

Volunteers Tristian Vasilunas, Sam Hakendorf and Andrew Hughes from the Beth CFS Headquarters with one of the trucks being rolled out for Christmas. Picture: Kelly Barnes

All the Country Fire Service wants for Christmas is some new equipment.

And that’s exactly what they will receive in a process decades in the making.

A changeover from legacy equipment, some of which was brought in post the Ash Wednesday fires, is expected to be fully finalised before the man in the big red suit arrives.

This equipment from old trucks to power tools will be rolling out to brigades just in time for a heatwave expected to arrive, with temperatures of 36 degrees-plus forecast for Boxing Day.

CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin said the $5.2 million investment would help volunteers respond to incidents in the community.

CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin announcing the new CFS truck rollout. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Williamstown CFS Brigade Captain Steve Elliott. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“These vehicles are state of the art and enable us to meet the full response of road crash rescue, structural fires and rural firefighting across communities across our state,” he said.

“These have been designed by firefighters for firefighters.”

“Ours is an industry where moments matter and the design of these appliances is so we can maximise the moments that our firefighters have.”

CFS Williamstown Brigade Captain Steve Elliot said the local brigade, based in the Hills, would benefit greatly from the upgrades.

“A third of our call-outs are motor vehicle crashes so having a road crash vehicle … makes it a lot easier,” he said.

Mr Elliot said the current vehicles were up to 20 years old and ”finding space on the old trucks is becoming a bit of an issue so seeing this now is great.”

Mr Loghlin issued a warning to those travelling and holidaying in the next few days amid the high temperatures predicted.

“The weather forecast for Boxing Day has deteriorated significantly,” he said.

“It’s shaping up to be a day we’re really concerned about.

“My message to South Australians is to take that seriously.”

Emergency Services minister Dan Cregan said the changeover was a long time coming and completed in the nick of time.

“This is a generational change driven by volunteer safety for the bushfire season. ”

Originally published as South Australian Country Fire Services complete roll out of new vehicles and equipment