Cranbourne MP Jude Perera handed the keys to a new truck to Cranbourne Fire Brigade member Craig
By Bridget Brady
CRANBOURNE firefighters will be better equipped this fire season after receiving a $350,000 tanker.
The tanker has burn-over protection, which covers the outside of the truck with curtains and water if a crew was caught in fire.
The crew has been using the truck for four weeks, but Cranbourne MP Jude Perera officially handed over the keys on Monday night. Cranbourne Officer In Charge at the Cranbourne Fire Station Jim Dore said the tanker was a welcome addition to the station this summer.
“I hope we never have to use it, but unfortunately we tend to have a few of those burn- overs,” he said.
He said without the latest protection, it would be like sitting in an oven if a burn-over occurred.
The new tanker replaced a 10-year-old truck and would enable five crew members to be seated in the cabin, instead of three.
The truck was specifically designed to fight grass and wildfires, while the second truck at Cranbourne was used for structural fires, Mr Dore said.
After the horrific fires on Black Saturday, Mr Dore said the amount of training and preparation that crews have been through in the lead up to this summer was intense.
“It’s probably the most significant summer we’ve ever dealt with.
“The amount of planning and preparation is unbelievable.”
Cranbourne has 16 career staff and about 48 active volunteers.
Cranbourne supports crews from Hampton Park to Tooradin and from Langwarrin to Clyde.
