Community
28 February, 2025
Darlington CFA celebrates new asset
SIX members of the Darlington Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigade had a day of training to learn to use their new tanker recently.
The 4.4C heavy tanker will replace the brigade’s previous truck, which is now 30 years old.
Brigade captain Tony Wynd said the training day was “excellent”, with members tutored in the tanker’s features by instructor Col Chapman.
“We’ve got six drivers because we had specialized training in it, and we had two other members who attended to learn how to operate pumps and things – we learnt that as drivers as well,” he said.
“Our instructor Col was really thorough and really knew his stuff well.
“It took about eight hours - it was pretty intensive.”
Mr Chapman went through every aspect of the tanker and assessed members for their competency to drive and operate the pump and other gear.
Mr Wynd said the new vehicle was a “huge improvement” on the previous vehicle, with increased capacity and improved safety features for brigade members.
“This one can carry more water, and also all the crew can travel in the cab and it’s air-conditioned – it’s much improved on the old one,” he said.
“It’s also four-wheel-drive, so it allows us access to place we couldn’t access before and get us there safely.
“The pump is three times the capacity of the old one, so it’s safer for us.
“It’s got e-flares and cones, and all sorts of things we didn’t have in our old truck.
“We don’t want to have to use it, but we’re looking forward to the fact that when we do have to use it that it’s going to do the job better.”
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