Firefighters in Tarneit are warning that frontline emergency response capability in one of Victoria’s busiest growth areas is being pushed to the limit.
Firefighters are currently operating out of a station with four appliance bays — but only one truck. That single appliance is well past its service life and is not fully functioning.
Crews say this is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader and increasingly common problem across the network, leading to firefighters being unable to consistently meet the response-time targets FRV has set for itself.
Firefighters warn this places both the Tarneit community and emergency crews at greater risk, particularly as demand continues to grow rapidly across the western suburbs.
Tarneit firefighters are extending an open invitation to local MP Dylan Wight to visit the station and speak directly with the firefighters serving his electorate.
Firefighters want their local representative to see firsthand the challenges they face, including:
• Ageing, unreliable and insufficient appliances
• A workforce that has gone five years without a pay rise, impacting more than 4,500 firefighters and corporate staff
• Low morale caused by prolonged delays in enterprise bargaining negotiations
Firefighters believe Tarneit residents deserve a properly resourced fire service, and that crews deserve safe equipment, fair conditions and a representative willing to listen directly to those protecting the community every day.