Last night’s fire at the Morwell Bowling Club exposed a critical issue: a lack of reliable aerial firefighting equipment. Traralgon’s 14-year-old Ladder Platform 77 had a hydraulic malfunction, forcing them to shut down operations and wait on Dandenong’s ladder platform, leaving that community vulnerable. This isn’t new. The Dandenong Ladder Platform covered for Traralgon in December last year during the fatal paint factory fire, leaving a massive gap in capability. Dandenong’s truck has also been used 5 times at fires in the last week. Enough is enough, our firefighters and communities deserve better. We need Minister Symes and the Victorian Government to invest in NEW and reliable equipment.
