New fire trucks a major coup for Hawkesbury area

Summary

Four Rural Fire Brigades in the Hawkesbury area are celebrating the official handover of new bush fire trucks and vehicles, as fire activity around the State increases.

NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Assistant Commissioner Dominic Lane congratulated the Grose Wold, Lower Portland, Colo Heights and Blaxland Ridge Brigades on the acquisition of their new bush fire trucks and vehicles.

"The NSW RFS is committed to providing volunteer firefighters with the equipment they need to carry out the important work they do in protecting their local communities from fire.

"These new vehicles are replacing older style models and will allow firefighters to continue to provide a high level of emergency service to the Hawkesbury area.

"The combined worth of the four vehicles being handed to these brigades today is around $850,000, putting these brigades in good stead ahead of what is shaping up to be a busy fire season," said Assistant Commissioner Lane.

The NSW RFS has warned that following widespread rainfall around the State there is a lot of vegetation and grass growth that could provide the ideal conditions for fire when it dries out.

"We are already starting to see a steady increase in fire activity and the bush fire season has not officially started in many parts of the State yet.

"On Saturday alone NSW RFS volunteer firefighters attended close to 30 fires throughout the State and were patrolling a further 10 bush and grass fires.

"These fires are a timely reminder that fire can take hold in the absence of warm weather; all that is required for serious fires to start is high fuel loads and wind, two elements we have plenty of in NSW at the moment," said Assistant Commissioner Lane.

Contact Name: State Duty Media Officer

Contact Phone: 02 9898 1855