A vital fire truck dedicated to responding to emergencies in Melbourne’s CBD has been taken out of commission following two catastrophic failures.
First, the truck overheated while responding to a house fire, leaving it unable to perform its critical role of supporting move-up capability for fire stations across metropolitan Melbourne.
The next day, during a firefighting demonstration, the truck suffered another major failure when the gears on its pump completely sheared off.
Thankfully, this occurred in a controlled setting and not during an actual emergency.
With no spare vehicles available statewide, the CBD is now left without a critical appliance during peak activity, as 80,000 cricket fans and countless tourists gather in the area. The loss of this resource severely compromises firefighter response and community safety.
Fire trucks are breaking down across Victoria, exposing both firefighters and the public to increasing risks. Yet, Fire Rescue Victoria and the State Government continue to ignore the escalating crisis.
