CORINELLA is one of seven brigades that will receive a light tanker next year.
CFA has purchased truckloads of tankers to ensure it is stocked up ahead of the manufacturer’s discontinuation of the model.
The 50-cab chassis are lined up in CFA’s State Logistics Centre, where they will be sent off in small batches to a local specialist body manufacturer, Bell Environmental, to be turned into light tankers.
The seven brigades receiving light tankers helped fund the trucks through local community donations and funding grants through the 2024/25 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).
CFA’s head of fleet and protective equipment, Dan Jones said the process of the build into fire trucks for each tanker is expected to take six months, with the rollout to start in mid-2026.
“These light tankers will come equipped with the latest safety features and new firefighting equipment,” Dan said.
“They’re a low-profile emergency response vehicle with 4x4 manoeuvrability, which assists with navigating through busy urban streets or rugged rural terrain.
“It’s also lightweight with the capacity to hold 2000 litres of water, so they’re a vital asset to our firefighting fleet.
“It was important to ensure we had the stock so we can continue delivering these vital firefighting vehicles to our brigades across the state over the next couple of years.”
