Gerald Lynch
Firefighters have called on the state government to urgently implement a rolling fleet replacement program after concerns that gaps in Victoria’s firefighting capability were exposed by the worst industrial fire since the creation of Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) in 2020.
The Derrimut blaze on Wednesday, July 10, required nearly a quarter of the FRV operational fleet to be deployed to the ACB chemical factory on Swann Drive in Derrimut.
A critical piece of specialist equipment was absent during the initial response, as it had been moved across the city to cover another truck that was out of service for planned maintenance.
This meant firefighters had to establish positions closer to the fire and to bulk stores of flammable chemicals, using equipment that took longer to get in place.
A 20-year-old fire truck failed twice to produce foam during the fire response.
Fire Rescue Victoria policies set a 15-year replacement age on fire trucks, yet more than 40 per cent of the FRV fleet is already past this age. That will rise to more than 60 per cent by the end of 2025, according to the United Firefighters Union (UFU).
More than 40 per cent of the fire trucks that attended the Derrimut fire were past their use by date.
UFU Victorian secretary Peter Marshall said the availability of equipment and equipment failures in the response demanded immediate action.
“This is the loudest wake-up call we are ever going to get,” he said.
“We cannot ignore it. The price of inaction could well be paid in human lives.
“Everyone should be concerned by reports that equipment firefighters needed wasn’t there, that they were placed closer to the fire and bulk chemical stores as a result, that trucks past their use by date had pump failures and that the entire incident had communications blackouts.
“We will not always have luck on our side. Firefighters in Victoria are going to work every day knowing that their truck might break down.
“Establishing a rolling fleet replacement program with funding to catch up to this potentially deadly problem and stay ahead of it is a smart, responsible and well overdue investment in public protection for the Victorian Government.”
A state government spokesperson said it has provided funding to emergency services and they have the equipment they need.
“We have delivered more than $100 million to ensure our firefighters have the trucks, resources and equipment they need to protect Victorians and keep themselves safe,” the spokesperson said.
“Fire Rescue Victoria’s (FRV) vehicles and equipment are maintained by an expert team to ensure they are both safe to use and ready to respond.”
