Victoria's firefighting fleet facing crisis levels amid funding shortfall

Leaked documents have revealed the state’s firefighting fleet is facing “significant deficiencies”, with senior Fire Rescue Victoria executives warning current funding is not enough to maintain adequate trucks on the road.

Victoria’s firefighting fleet is facing crisis levels with senior Fire Rescue Victoria executives warning current funding is inadequate to maintain adequate trucks on the road.

In documents leaked to the Herald Sun, fire chiefs have warned an estimated 132 trucks will become past their 15-year replacement date despite $10m in government funding for upgrades.

It also warned of significant blowouts in breakdown and maintenance outages and revealed less than half of the 144 appliances that needed replacing over the next five years would be.

The warnings were presented to the FRV’s executive leadership last month, and revealed the agency’s most senior leaders were aware of “significant deficiencies” in truck availability.

United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall said the leaked document showed FRV leaders were aware of significant risks to Victoria’s fire truck fleet.

“Firefighters are putting their lives on the line to protect the public every single day,” Mr Marshall said.

Peter Marshall says ageing trucks are putting the community and firefighters at risk. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“They are doing it in ancient, unsafe trucks that should not be on the road. They are a danger to public safety and firefighter safety.

“For years, Commissioner Gavin Freeman and his executive leadership team have been claiming that there is no danger.

“This document shows that there is a danger, that they know there is a danger, and that they have been misleading the public and firefighters about it.

“Firefighters and emergency services workers have lost confidence in their leadership and they must resign.

“If they do not resign they should be removed from their position so the fire service can be led by someone that firefighters and the Victorians they protect can have confidence in.”

Fire chiefs have warned about 132 trucks will become past their use by date. Picture: David Geraghty

FRV leaders were told a shortage of aerial fire trucks – which fight fires from above – are already occurring, and those related to frontline “pumper” trucks are emerging.

It recommended an urgent increase in maintenance, long-term capital investment for new trucks, and for “defendable data” to be produced about fleet probability.

In January, FRV commissioner Gavin Freeman sought to hose down concerns about the agency’s ageing fleet.

“Victorians should know that fire trucks do not expire simply because they reach a certain age,” he said at the time.

“These appliances are specially built and can remain in service for long periods, depending on their usage and workload.

“While FRV has more than 200 fire trucks in operation, I want to assure Victorians of the investment being made to upgrade our firefighting fleet right across Victoria.

“I am also working with the government to ensure our fleet is modernised and we have an annual allocation of funding to purchase new appliances.”

Mr Freeman said the pipeline for new truck rollouts was “extensive” and “highly complex” which could take up to two years for a single new fire truck to be delivered.

In January, FRV commissioner Gavin Freeman sought to hose down concerns about the agency’s ageing fleet. Picture: Chelsea SES Unit.

An FRV spokesperson said an independent audit of the organisation’s fleet and maintenance had been commissioned.

“FRV is proactively planning for the future and has made strong progress in updating our fleet and embracing new technology and innovation,” the spokesperson said.

“While FRV’s medium to long term planning is based on a target fleet replacement age of 15 years, this is not an expiration date. Firefighting appliances are purpose built and can remain in service for long periods, depending on their usage and workload.

“Victorians should rest assured they will always be protected in an emergency.”

Emergency service Minister Vicki Ward dismissed concerns saying work was being done in the area.

“I think this is an ongoing conversation,” she said.

“The UFU has an ongoing right to put forward concerns they may have about anything to do with their workplace but we are a government who has been investing heavily in new appliances for FRV and the CFA.

“This includes the investment we announced in the recent budget which is the $40 million fire truck replacement program. So year-on-year we will have new trucks coming online but that also builds on investment we have previously put in.”

Originally published as Victoria's firefighting fleet facing crisis levels amid funding shortfall