The New South Wales Government is investing in new firefighting appliances to deal with emergencies in Sydney’s growing inner suburbs, with the latest models making rescues faster and safer for firefighters and the communities they serve.
Suburbs in Sydney’s south and southwest will also benefit from the 2024 Fleet Replacement Program, with new pumper appliances stationed at Mascot and Rosemeadow Fire Stations.
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, said, “As Sydney grows, so does the need for modern fire protection. With the latest technology, the New South Wales Government is replacing fire appliances, reaching their shelf life in New South Wales.
“As the skylines of our major cities change, the Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) fleet is being adapted to deal with potential high-rise emergencies to keep our communities safe.”
The $950,000 Scania P320 Class 3 Pumpers use a compressed air foam system that allows for reduced water usage and more efficient foam disposal to reduce run-off when extinguishing fires.
The pumper based at Mascot will support existing fire services at Sydney Airport in case of major emergencies.
The Rosenbauer appliances are sophisticated replacements for existing ladders stationed at Darlinghurst and Woollahra Fire Stations. They can reach up to 32m, carry up to 300kg of personnel and materials, and feature a reticulated cage or bucket.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Capability, Megan Stiffler, said, “Not only can they reach the upper levels of our tallest apartment towers, these trucks can also extend over large factory roofs to reach the seats of fires and down embankments to get to vehicles that have run off the road.
“They put us in terrific stead to deal with the at-height emergencies of the future.”
An in-built target memory system enables the ladders to be automatically lowered or raised to previous coordinates, while high-definition thermal imaging capability relays real-time intelligence of the rescue site back to FRNSW command centres.
FRNSW’s aerial platforms have been strategically placed at fire stations throughout Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and key regional centres.
The Rosenbauer aerial rescue units are part of the New South Wales Government’s 2024/5 investment in FRNSW’s $18.6m Fleet Replacement Program and will help keep residents in Sydney’s growing suburbs safe.
These assets are among 20 new appliances being rolled out this financial year. Trucks have already been handed over to the Penrith, Smithfield, St Marys, and Huntingwood stations, and a new fire station has opened at Busby.
“Our Fleet Replacement Program doesn’t replace ‘like for like,’ it introduces better, modern and purpose-built fire engines that will be ‘prepared for anything’ well into the future,” Ms Stiffler said.
The New South Wales Government has also funded another station and three trucks for Badgerys Creek to help protect new homes and businesses in Sydney’s growing southwest and the new Western Sydney airport.
Image: SobrevolandPatagonia/stock.adobe.com
