By Mitchell Clarke
The Bayles Fire Brigade has welcomed a new ultra-light tanker which is set to provide a welcome boost to the volunteer brigade’s fire response.
The four-wheel-drive vehicle will increase the firefighting capacity and ensure greater safety for firefighters responding to incidents.
Designed to provide rapid response in grass and scrub fires, the highly manoeuvrable ultra-light vehicle also has an independent pump to help draw water quickly and safely.
Its small configuration means it can access fires that are normally inaccessible to larger tankers.
Representing the Minister for Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale officially handed over the 500-litre tanker on Tuesday 24 September, thanking them for their continued service to the local community.
“Bayles CFA is a small brigade doing big things with a long history of protecting life and property,” Ms Crugnale said.
“The Victorian Government is committed to giving our volunteer firefighters the tools and equipment they need to continue protecting their community.”
The state government funded $113,500 as part of the 2017-18 round of the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) while the brigade raised $21,500 to contribute to the project.
More than $77 million has been allocated to the VESEP program, with the 2019-20 round of funding offering close to $13.9 million from government.
Bayles Fire Brigade has been serving the local community for 75 years and attends around 30 to 40 incidents annually, including grassfires, house fires and traffic incidents.
The team actively participates in strike teams and recovery assistance, with members being previously deployed to fight the Ash Wednesday fires, 2009 Victorian bushfires and the recent Grantville and Bunyip fires.
