New $560,000 fire engine for Silverwater
Published: 9th June 2011
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Greg Mullins will today formally hand-over the keys of a new $560,000 fire engine to firefighters at Silverwater Fire Station.The fire engine features a pump that supplies up to 4000 litres of water a minute for fire fighting operations and a foam system to fight chemical, petrol and bushfires.
The new vehicle is fitted with a GPS navigation unit and an electronic message board on the back to warn motorists of emergency operations. The engine meets stringent emission standards.
"An upgrade such as this ensures that our firefighters have the best equipment and the latest technology to protect themselves and the community," Commissioner Mullins said.
"Another significant feature to the new fire engine is the change of colour from red and white checks to red and yellow checks to enhance the fire engine’s presence during daylight."
The Silverwater crew responded to 1645 fire and emergency calls in 2009/10 and took part in more than 174 community safety activities to educate locals about fire safety.
FRNSW Zone Commander for the Metropolitan East, Superintendent Greg O’Connor, said that many people don’t realise the wide variety of situations firefighters are called on to deal with.
"Silverwater Fire Station covers a wide area of industrial, commercial and domestic buildings and responds to a range of emergencies including major M4 motorway car accidents and of course fires," he said.
Supt O'Connor reminded the community that more home fires occur in winter than any other time of year.
"A key objective of winter fire safety this year is to get people to complete the quick and easy-to-use home fire safety audit at www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au to help families prevent and be prepared for fire.
"For those local residents who don’t have a computer, feel free to visit Silverwater Fire Station and they will be more than happy to help with fire safety tips," said Supt O'Connor.