Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Has Grounded Its Entire Fleet Of 290 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons And 59 Unimogs Due To Critical Safety Concerns Just Weeks Before The Official Start Of Bushfire Season. The Vehicles, Purchased In A $32 Million Investment In 2017, Are Designed For Rapid Response In Remote Terrain But Cracks In Chassis Frames Have Rendered Them Unsafe For Deployment. With Premier Jacinta Allan Warning Of A “Dangerous And Active” Fire Season Ahead, The Sudden Withdrawal Has Sent Shockwaves Through Regional CFA Brigades Already Operating On Aging Equipment.
Russell Wright, Captain Of The Erica And District CFA Brigade, Said His Team’s Primary Tanker Dates Back To 1983 Long Before Modern Safety Standards Were Enforced. “We’re Supported By Other Brigades, So That Also Puts Pressure On Them To Support Us While We’re Supporting DEECA,” He Explained. Unlike The Grounded FFMVic Fleet, CFA Vehicles Lack Crush Protection Systems, Heightening Risks For Volunteers Working In Dense Forests. “There’s An Increased Awareness Around Volunteers To Be Extra Careful,” Wright Added, Voicing Frustration Over The Lack Of Clarity On Repair Timelines.
The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), Which Represents FFMVic Firefighters, Revealed It Raised Concerns About The G-Wagons’ Structural Integrity Years Ago. “Late September, We Had Custom Reports Showing Cracks In The Chassis Of Some Vehicles,” Said AWU Representative Ross Kenna. Since Then, Inspections Have Been Conducted Across The Majority Of The Fleet. The Timing Could Not Be Worse: With Soils Drying And Fuel Loads Accumulating, Early Fire Suppression Is Critical And These Vehicles Were Meant To Be On The Front Lines.
A Victorian Government Spokesperson Confirmed Repairs Are Being Fast-Tracked Over The Next Two Months And That Additional Vehicles Have Been Mobilized To Maintain Bushfire Preparedness. Talks Are Underway To Secure Emergency Response Units From Other States If Needed. Still, Nationals Leader Danny O’Brien Called The Situation “Unacceptable,” Citing The $3 Billion Emergency Services Levy Meant To Fund Exactly This Kind Of Readiness. “We’re Spending A Hell Of A Lot Of Money Yet Volunteers Are Left Holding The Hose,” He Said.
For Rural Firefighters, Equipment Isn’t Just Metal And Rubber It’s The Thin Line Between Containment And Catastrophe. With Summer Looming, Every Day Without These Vehicles Is A Gamble. While The Government Touts Contingency Plans, Volunteers Like Wright Know The Reality: When A Fire Ignites In Remote Bushland, There’s No Substitute For A Reliable, Purpose-Built Response Vehicle. You Can’t Fight Flames With Faith Alone.
The Grounded Fleet Was Once Hailed As A Landmark Upgrade To Victoria’s Firefighting Capacity. Now, Parked In Depots Across The State, These Vehicles Symbolize A Systemic Gap Between Investment And Maintenance. As Climate Conditions Worsen, The Lesson Is Clear: Procurement Without Long-Term Oversight Is A Recipe For Crisis. And In The Bush, Where Seconds Count, There’s No Time To Wait For Spare Parts. Preparedness Isn’t Just About Having Trucks—It’s About Keeping Them Roadworthy.
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