Parks trucks can carry firefighters or water, not both

Problems with Parks firefighting equipment means they have to turn up at blazes with their tanks half-full.

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MOST Parks and Wildlife Service vehicles used for firefighting can safely carry people or a full tank of water, but not both at once, parliament has heard.

In Parliament on Thursday, Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said she had been sent an email circulated by Parks management warning against using the current vehicle fleet in the event of a fire.

“It is our understanding that Parks management and you as minister have known for at least a year that the majority of vehicles in the Parks fleet used to carry slip-on fire tankers during the fire season exceed the vehicles’ gross vehicular mass, or GVM, after they have been loaded with a tanker full of water, pump and other essential equipment.

“That is very concerning. Parks has had a full year to address this issue yet we are heading into this year’s fire season unprepared.”

2019 January Bushfires (Bush Fires) DPIPWE (Parks) firefighters at a blaze near Miena over the weekend of the 20th/21st January. PICTURE: Theo Mapley

Parks Minister Roger Jaesnch said the amount of weight vehicles were able to carry varied from vehicle to vehicle.

“The Parks and Wildlife Service has identified that some vehicles in its current fleet may exceed the acceptable tolerances of the vehicles’ GVM when fully loaded with people, water and equipment.

“The replacement of vehicles was put on hold during COVID-19 in response to a potential oversupply of leased vehicles on the auction market.

“With the lifting of this directive, the core fleet of firefighting vehicle orders has now been placed ahead of the 2021 fire season.

“The Parks and Wildlife Service is preparing a longer-term strategy to replace other vehicles over time as its leases expire.

“This strategy balances the need of the vehicle for firefighting versus the routine operational demands of the vehicle.

Mr Jaesnch said the safety of Parks and Wildlife staff was a top priority.

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