Gerald Lynch
The United Firefighters Union (UFU) is up in arms after another weekend without Sunshine’s teleboom 44 in operation, leaving the area vulnerable to fires in multi-storey buildings.
The teleboom is stuck in an up position due to a broken cover, which has left the truck with critical damage.
The teleboom 44 is 24 years old, meaning it is nine years past its recommended service life, according to the union.
The UFU said that in Sunbury, a truck has been taken off the roads due to a pump failure, only weeks after it was taken off line for a similar fault.
The truck is 14 years old, meaning it should be retired from operation in seven months, but the UFU forecasts it needed to be salvaged and used for far longer.
UFU delegate Gavin Marshall said a lack of improvement in equipment is concerning.
“The west of Melbourne has the highest rate of industrial fires in the state, and the aerial firefighting capability provided by this teleboom is crucial,” he said.
“In the early stages of a fire, quick suppression with aerial support can be the key to preventing catastrophic spread and ensuring the safety of both the public and our firefighters. Without it, our ability to respond effectively is severely compromised.”
UFU delegate from the western district, Charlie Williamson, said strong and operating equipment is key to keeping the west safe heading into the warmer months.
“Teleboom 44 is the busiest aerial appliance in the state for structure fires but has been unavailable for the best part of 18 months,” he said.
“In the last four years it has responded to almost double the amount of second alarm fire calls compared to any other district in the state.
“The importance of the teleboom is vital in the western area given the exposure that exists. A quick response and deployment of the teleboom can prevent a fire spread or escalation from second alarm to third alarm.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) expects 22 new vehicles to arrive in the next 12 months
An FRV spokesperson said the western suburbs are well protected by FRV, including specialist aerial capability.
“At all times, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) ensures that appropriate equipment is deployed to emergencies to protect firefighters and the community. There is no single point of dependency,” the spokesperson said.
“We continually utilise our full fleet across the state to ensure a high level of availability for emergency response.
“While mechanical issues can occur in any appliance, FRV attends to these quickly to minimise disruption and ensure sufficient vehicles remain operational.
“FRV consistently reviews our allocation of resources and equipment to ensure we maintain capability and improve service delivery to the Victorian community.”
