Hannah Hammoud
Firefighters in Brimbank have voiced their frustrations over the alarming frequency of equipment failures plaguing their station.
Since September last year, the St Albans Fire Station has received seven replacement vehicles for their fire truck – also referred to as an ‘appliance’.
With nearly two decades of experience in the western suburbs, station officer John Topic said fire crews have deep concerns over the reliability of their equipment.
“We always had faith in our equipment and appliances, whereas now being a station officer [and] being in charge of crews, sending crews into a fire… I always have that reservation in the back of my mind – is that appliance going to work and supply those crews inside the structure with water?”
The consequences of faulty equipment are dire. Crews have been forced to withdraw from dangerous situations due to truck malfunctions, endangering both firefighters and those they aim to rescue.
“It has happened in the past where crews have gone into a structure to battle a blaze or perform a rescue and the truck has shut down. When that happens we have to withdraw the crew for their own safety until we can establish more water,” Mr Topic said.
“What it’s created is a bit of doubt in everyone’s mind with the equipment we’re using, whether it’s going to work for us when we need it.”
Mr Topic said the lack of confidence in the equipment only grows with each replacement, as the quality and reliability of the substitutes remain questionable.
“Our faith in these trucks and these appliances isn’t great at the moment,” he said.
“It hasn’t cost anyone’s life or injured anyone just yet – but why should we have to wait till something that dramatic does happen?”
In recent years, Mr Topic said firefighters have been left to deal with a fleet that is outdated and unreliable.
“We might have a truck that’s maybe 15 or 16 years old at the station [and] that’s our allocated appliance which is already overdue its lifespan… but then the replacement truck we get might be an even older truck,” he said.
“Your faith just diminishes each time you get one of these replacement vehicles, you’re not sure what’s wrong with it, what its history is, what problems it’s had in the past. So this truck could have come from the other side of Melbourne, we have no idea what the performance of it is like until we actually use it.”
An FRV spokesperson said the safety of firefighters, other first responders and the community is “paramount”.
“FRV is doing everything we can to ensure the highest safety standards,” the spokesperson said.
“Replacement vehicles have been provided to St Albans and Sunshine while FRV’s Fleet Team carries out maintenance work, as is usual practice. “The stations’ own appliances are expected back in service next week.
“All mechanical equipment experiences problems from time to time. However, rigorous internal processes ensure our fleet consistently delivers a high standard of service and, crucially, a safe environment for our people and the community.
“These processes include regular servicing in line with manufacturer guidelines and safety standards, implementing and continually modernising asset management policies, and enhancing existing vehicles.”
Mr Topic said it has been a combination of inaction from the state government alongside a lack of planning from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) that has led to trucks not being replaced in an efficient manner.
The situation is equally dire at Sunshine Fire Station, where a crucial firefighting truck, the teleboom, has been absent since February last year. This specialised truck, used for tackling fires in narrow streets, has left firefighters handicapped in critical situations.
Mr Topic said the excuses provided for the teleboom’s prolonged absence are wearing thin. Despite assurances of repairs and imminent return, the truck remains offline, leaving Sunshine and surrounding areas vulnerable to fire risks.
“I was a firefighter in Sunshine for about 15 years and we used that truck at almost every major house fire, every factory fire, and in the western suburbs, especially lately, we’re needing that probably every few days or at least weekly. The next nearest truck of the same capability is Thomastown or Richmond,” he said.
A state government spokesperson said FRV vehicles are regularly maintained by an expert team to ensure they’re at the standard needed to protect community safety.
“We have delivered record funding in recent years for our fire services to ensure they have the resources and equipment they need to protect our communities and keep firefighters safe,” the spokesperson said.
“… We work closely with FRV to determine what it needs to deliver the best service for the community.”
