Firefighters at Fire Station 57 Tarneit have been left without a fire truck since Wednesday.
Their appliance has suffered multiple mechanical failures such a faulty pressure gauge and loose pump control unit, but more serious problems — including a leaking transfer case — have forced the truck off the road.
There is currently no replacement truck available anywhere in the state.
To make matters worse, this fire truck was already a replacement. Tarneit’s original truck has been off the road long-term due to being outdated and in need of major repairs. That same truck has previously failed at a house fire where someone were trapped inside, forcing firefighters to go inside without a hose line to protect them.
This is what an underfunded fire service looks like.
Under the watch of Jacinta Allan and Vicki Ward, frontline firefighters are being asked to protect rapidly growing communities like Tarneit without the basic equipment needed to do the job safely and effectively.
Victorians are now paying significantly more through the new Emergency Services tax — yet they are not seeing stronger fire coverage, newer trucks, or proper fleet replacement.
You cannot charge communities more while delivering them less.
Tarneit families deserve a fully resourced fire station. Firefighters deserve reliable equipment. And Victoria deserves a government that takes emergency services seriously.