Leaked documents expose fears over Melbourne’s ageing fire truck fleet

Fire Rescue Victoria’s leaked documents reveal the agency has sounded the alarm to the state government about the need to urgently update its appliances.

About 60 fire trucks in metropolitan Melbourne are over 15 years old.

Almost half of Melbourne’s outdated firetruck fleet is more than 15 years old, with Fire Rescue Victoria secretly warning government that communities could be put at risk if action isn’t urgently taken.

Leaked cabinet documents from Fire Rescue Victoria have revealed the agency sounded the alarm to the government in the last few years about the need to update its appliances, calling for nearly $20m over three years in new investments.

But the United Firefighters Union claims the Victorian government has failed to heed that warning ahead of what is predicted to be the worst bushfire season since the Black Summer fires.

The leaked Fire Rescue Victoria document, obtained by the Herald Sun, warned that the agency didn’t have the fleet it needed to sufficiently protect personnel and communities.

“Emergency service assets are essential to the capability of Victoria’s emergency service organisations. If they are not fit for purpose, Victorian communities and firefighters will be put at risk and Fire Rescue Victoria’s (FRV) service delivery will be impacted,” the documents stated.

The UFU claims the Victorian government has failed to heed the warning. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“FRV have identified that their existing fleet and vehicle profiles are ageing and may not meet the necessary service delivery or health and safety standards. Over the next 10 years there will need to be planned and considered investment across Victoria’s ageing fleet of firefighting appliances.”

Almost 60 fire trucks in metropolitan Melbourne are over 15 years old and have cracked doors, old engines and rusted roofs.

By Christmas, 73 frontline vehicles (58 per cent) will have passed their use-by date, according to the union.

Premier Jacinta Allan has hit back at the union, saying the state’s fleet is ready for the looming bushfire season.

Ms Allan on Thursday said the government had provided “significant additional funding” to Fire Rescue Victoria and more than 90 per cent of the fleet was available for operation.

“As for regular maintenance, obviously FRB, the leadership at FRP are responsible for how they manage their resources and how they manage the operational deployment of their resources,” she said.

“But we’ve given them significant additional funding in recent years to do that really important work.”

Ms Allan refused to be drawn on whether she believed the new calls for upgrades from UFU boss Peter Marshall were for show ahead of a major paydeal with the government.

“Others can speculate on why the activities are happening … because we know, the fire season is about to start with some advice, the season is not that far off,” she said.

“What we’re focused on is making sure that across the board, all of our fire agencies and also our broader emergency services team, are focused on the coming fire season.”

A staffing requirements plan by FRV last year called for more resources for growing areas including Rosebud, Portland, Wangaratta and Sunbury.