TWO new $420,000 fire trucks have been delivered to protect the volatile Capes area.
The first was delivered to the Yallingup Coastal Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) on Friday and the other to Cowaramup yesterday.
“There are another three (3.4 urban tankers) due to be delivered at Wallcliffe, Witchcliffe and the existing Dunsborough VFRS,” Capes district officer Danny Mosconi said.
“In addition to these we are also expecting another 4.4 rural tanker (400L water/4WD) to be delivered to Dunsborough.
“All should be in place before the end of the year – six in total.
“Before the 2013 summer we also expect to receive two extra 3.4UTs which will be delivered to Busselton VFRS and Margaret River VFRS.
“This is all a part of the Capes Enhanced Service Delivery Project we have been working on for the past six months.
“Others will follow.”
The Minister for Emergency Services and Vasse MLA Troy Buswell, who inspected the vehicle in Yallingup on Friday, said the Capes region was a high-fire risk region and this wide-ranging program provided a more concerted and cohesive approach to bushfire management and protection for the community.
“A key feature of the program is to create dual registered brigades, such as the Yallingup one, which now operates as both a bushfire brigade and a fire and rescue service,” he said.
“As part of this change process volunteers are now being trained on responding to structural fires.”
Mr Buswell said the area near the Yallingup township would be classed as a gazetted fire district, which meant Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) would be responsible for coordinating the response to bushfires and structural fires in the area.
“Our focus for the Capes program has been to enhance frontline response capabilities and volunteers will now have new equipment and receive specialised training so they are ready to deal with different types of incidents and emergencies.
“This new 3.4 urban tanker is equipped with breathing apparatus, structural firefighting equipment and has crew safety features such as reversing cameras, front water spray bar and drop down fire curtains.”
Mr Mosconi said nine firefighters attended a two day course over the weekend in Dunsborough for training with new firefighting equipment.
“We have trained a total of 40 volunteer firefighters over the past three months with structural firefighting and breathing apparatus (BA).
“This was a breathing apparatus course, which gives the participants the skills to wear BA and conduct search and rescue operations.”
