Sutherland community to benefit from new vehicle
Published: 6th July 2020
Fire protection and emergency response in the Sutherland community will be enhanced with the handover of a new $760,000 pumper to Sutherland Fire Station today.
The new appliance has a pump that supplies up to 4,000 litres of water a minute for firefighting operations and a Compressed Air Foam (CAFs) system to fight chemical, petrol and bush fires.
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.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter said FRNSW continued to provide its firefighters with modern vehicles that will provide them with top-of-the-line capabilities to protect NSW families.
“This new pumper is part of a large roll out of new response vehicles across NSW that will give our firefighters the edge when responding to the various emergencies that we manage and contribute to,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“An upgrade such as this ensures that our firefighters have the best equipment and the latest technology to ensure the safety and protection of themselves and the people they protect.
“Now that we have these vehicles in our fleet, we are better prepared to meet the ever-growing challenges facing our communities,” Commissioner Baxter said.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said this new vehicle would serve to improve emergency response in the Sutherland area, providing even greater protection for local residents.
“FRNSW do a great job in responding to a variety of emergencies across NSW so it is pleasing that the NSW Government has recognised the wonderful work they do by providing new vehicles to improve emergency response,” Mr Elliott said.
“Sutherland firefighters responded to more than 2,587 fire and emergency calls in 2019 and took part in more than 174 community safety activities to educate the local community about fire safety, so it is fitting that they receive this new pumper.”
FRNSW replaces on average up to 40 vehicles each year with brand new and modern vehicles as part of a $17 million annual program.