The new truck was funded through the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program, which supports CFA brigades to upgrade and replace ageing equipment.
Lurg Fire Brigade captain Geoff Rowe said he welcomed the new addition.
“Our highest priority is the safety of our people, and having a dual-cab tanker means our crews can travel together, communicate and plan on the way to an incident, and stay together if conditions deteriorate,” he said.
“The light tanker is really well suited to our area. We operate across steep, undulating and sometimes heavily forested terrain, so having a tanker that holds a significant amount of water that is still manoeuvrable will make a real difference to how we respond.
“The tanker will overall be a more capable vehicle for the types of callouts we attend and will serve us well into the future.”
Built on the sturdy Isuzu NPS crew cab chassis, the light tanker boasts an array of impressive features, including a 2000 litre water tank, with 500 litres reserved for crew protection, and a crew cab with seating for four firefighters.
The truck gives crews the flexibility to respond across a wide range of terrain, and with a 450 litres-per-minute main pump and a 20 litres-per-minute ultra-high-pressure pump, it is well equipped for an array of incidents.
Its low profile and 4x4 capability ensure ease of operation, whether navigating congested urban streets or rugged rural terrain.
Safety was front of mind in the truck’s design and the crew cab is fitted with advanced driver assist features, while the crew deck includes a number of upgraded safety measures:
- Latching crew doors fitted with alarms
- One-metre-high side shielding
- A deck camera, awning and intercom
- In-cabin touch screen controls
- Customised cabin handles and crew steps
Victorian Emergency Services Minister Paul Edbrook was there for the delivery.
“Lurg’s volunteers put their lives on the line to protect their community,” he said.
“We’re making sure they have what they need to keep their community safe.”
The brigade’s station is also currently undergoing upgrades through CFA’s gender diversity program.