Community
12 March, 2025
Cobden CFA gets a new set of wheels
COBDEN’S Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers welcomed the arrival of a new state-of-the-art heavy tanker last week.
The brigade was among those to share in 48 heavy tankers and two light tankers which have been funded through the Victorian Government’s $126 million CFA Capability Funding package, announced in June 2020.
The heavy tanker features a 15-tonne crew-cab chassis, 4000 litre water tank and an automatic transmission with 4x4 capability to allow crews to traverse even the harshest terrain.
Cobden CFA captain Dale Robertson said the upgrade was a welcome addition as the first tanker upgrade the brigade has had since 2015.
“A bunch of them got sent out across the state and we were lucky enough to get one,” he said.
“The advantages are they have 4000 litres of water, compared to our old truck which had 2000 litres, which is good for us because there isn’t much water supply out in farming areas.
“There’s heaps more safety protection in cab.
“They’re smoother to ride in, it’s fully automatic, all your crew protection is updated, and there is additional storage when you do go away on strike teams.”
The tanker boasts a 1200 litres per minute diesel engine-driven, firefighting pump, crew and vehicle rollover, enhanced burnover protection, full equipment stowage cache, electronic monitors and electric rewind hose reels, and even features a a higher percentage of recyclable build materials.
“Pretty good rig, it is,” Cpt Robertson said.
The unit which is being replaced will be sent off to a smaller brigade in the district, ensuring multiple brigades receive an upgrade.
Cpt Robertson said the tanker had become operational from last week, after members of the Cobden CFA spent three weeks training to ensure full operational efficiency in the event of a callout.
“Three of us had to go through driver training with an instructor, and then we were able to train other members through a full day,” he said.
“We’re up to speed with it, and it’s a good bit of gear to have.”
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