A fire alarm at State Parliament has once again highlighted the condition of Victoria’s ageing fire trucks.
The appliance that responded was a 35-year-old Ultra with more than 196,000 kilometres on the clock. A notice attached to the truck advised firefighters not to use the foam pump because it was out of service.
Earlier the same morning, Melbourne’s only aerial ladder appliance reportedly broke down at Government House after the ladder failed to retract.
With around 65% of Victoria’s frontline fire appliances expected to be beyond their intended service life by the end of the year, it serves as another reminder of the challenges firefighters face while responding to emergencies with an ageing fleet.
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