Equipment
Tanker
History
Prior to taking
delivery of the current Tanker, the Brigade operated with a succession of International
tankers that were at the end of their operational life. The Isuzu 2.2D
was built by the Country Fire Authority at its Ballarat Truck Manufacturing
Plant in 1989 and initially allocated to Scoresby in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges.
After a major overhaul at the CFA’s Kangaroo Flat Workshop, it was handed over
to Maiden Gully on September 12th,
1999.
The unit can convey a crew of six and the necessary fire fighting equipment to the fire ground where it can be used to pump water from the tank, open water or street mains. The vehicle has been modified with additional lockers and a live hose reel to provide for structural as well as wildfire fire fighting.
Vehicle Type: 2.2D Tanker Registration: MWH 621
Built: 1989 To Maiden Gully: 12.9.1999
Cab Chassis: Isuzu FSR 12 FRA series two wheel drive
Power plant: 6.494 litre Isuzu 6BGI diesel.
Transmission: Isuzu MBG6P, 6 speed manual gearbox.
Communications: Motorola MCS 2000 Mobile & Motorola MTS 2000 portable.
Water Capacity: 2000 litres with A class foam capability.
Pump: GAAM Mk 250 Pump powered by a Lombardini Diesel engine.
Pump Capacity: Maximum flow of 950 litres per minute and delivering 580 litres per minute at 700 kpa.
Other Equipment:
Two Sabre Centurion CABA sets with spare cylinders.
Smallaire Positive Pressure Fan
240m of 38mm hose
100m of 64mm hose
Range of branches, nozzles and adaptors.
Salvage and forcible entry equipment
Fire extinguishers and small tools
Hand tools such as Rakehoes, shovel and axe.
Slip On
The need for a
four wheel drive light tanker was first highlighted in the Brigade’s Risk Analysis
that was completed in 1999. Standard tankers have difficulty accessing
the dry schlerophyll forest that makes up more than 60% of the Brigade’s area.
A small four wheel drive can get in quickly, locate the fire and contain it.
Although priority for fundraising had to go towards fire station construction,
in 2000 the Brigade built the Slip-On module based on the DSE design and mounted
it in a trailer.
With the Fire Station virtually completed, the Brigade made a successful application
through the Government’s Community Safety Emergency Support Program (CSESP)
for funds to proceed in purchasing a Toyota Land Cruiser 78 Cab Chassis with
alloy tray. The unit being officially commissioned by Bob Cameron MLA on Sunday,
March 16th. 2003 Financial support also came from the Annie Danks Trust
and the Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation. In September 2005, the Slip
On was updated with a new cab/chassis with some minor modification to equipment.
Having a second fire fighting vehicle adds enormously to the flexibility of operation of the Maiden Gully Fire Brigade. It enables the Brigade to provide an enhanced fire suppression capability in the Maiden Gully area and to provide greater support to neighbouring communities and those throughout the region. As well as fighting fires, the unit is used for personnel transport, plug inspections, fire equipment maintenance and assisting with the Kangaroo Flat Secondary College Youth Crew.
Technical
Vehicle Type: Slip-On Registration: TRS 9873
Built:
2005
To Maiden Gully: 02.09.2005 (new)
Cab Chassis: Toyota Land Cruiser 78 four wheel drive.
Power plant: 6 cylinder diesel.
Transmission: Toyota, 5 speed manual gearbox.
Communications: Motorola MCS 2000 Mobile & Motorola MTS 2000 portable.
Water Capacity: 400 litres with A class foam capability.
Pump: Regent 3PKT Pump powered by a 5hp Honda petrol engine.
Other Equipment: 3KVA generator and lights, hand tools, drip torch, extinguishers, hose and couplings and tool box.
A Slip-On is a small fire appliance that is built up on a standard one tonne four wheel drive cab-chassis. The fire fighting capability comes from a module consisting of a 400 litre tank, a pump and other fire suppression tools that can be slipped onto the vehicles tray when required. This enables the unit to be used for other purposes (eg. Park Management) and updated economically. Throughout Australia, a number of fire services have employed the Slip-On concept. Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment makes considerable use of these versatile units. At Maiden Gully, the firefighting module remains on the vehicle throughout the year.