Fire Station 87’s ladder platform truck, critical for fighting fires and high-risk rescues, has been out of action for weeks. Instead of a proper replacement, FRV supplied a 26-year-old truck—11 years past its own service life policy—which has suffered multiple, completely different failures, each one more dangerous than the last.
First, its controls failed, leaving it stuck in the air for over a week.
Then, after repairs, a new fault rendered it unusable the moment it returned to service, with the hydraulic system failing.
Finally, after being driven away for more repairs, its turbo failed mid-drive, forcing mechanics to limp it back at slow speed.
This isn’t just bad luck, it’s a direct result of relying on dangerously outdated trucks that should have been retired over a decade ago. Yet FRV claims its fleet is fit for purpose, and Victorians are paying double the fire levy for a service in Fire Crisis. How long until tragedy strikes?