On Sunday the Keysbrook Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade officially got the keys to their new 2.4 Rural Tanker.
The Keysbrook VBFB was established in 1997 to provide a local response capability for bushfires across Keysbrook, Serpentine, Jarrahdale, and surrounding areas and currently has 22 members, led by Captain Chris Burgess.
Captain Burgess said he was excited by the enhanced capability of the new appliance.
“We originally had a Light Tanker with about 500 – 600L, and now we’ve got a 2000L truck and we’re really excited to get this out on the road,” he said.
The first-of-type 2.4 Rural Tanker is being commissioned as a replacement appliance for the Keysbrook Light Tanker. Funded by the Emergency Services Levy (approximately $500k), the 2.4 Rural Tanker appliance is designed to carry three crew with 2000 litres of operational water and 40 litres foam capacity.
Other features to keep the crew safe include Automated Vehicle Location, deluge water systems, radiant heat shields/curtains, chassis lagging, burnover blankets, and ‘in cab’ breathable air units.
Over the past two years Keysbrook VBFB have attended 26 incidents and eight large bushfires, including the Keysbrook Bushfire in which the Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery was one of the properties under threat.
The new 2.4 Rural Tanker has already been deployed to assist at large bushfires in Bedfordale and Waroona.
In addition to incident response, the Keysbrook VBFB also commits many volunteer hours to training and supporting the community to prepare for bushfires.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson officially handed over the new truck.
“The volunteers at Keysbrook Bushfire Brigade do an amazing job fighting fires and keeping local communities safe,” he said.
“Acting DFES Commissioner Melissa Pexton, local member Hugh Jones and I had the pleasure over the weekend to officially handover a new 2.4B fire appliance to the brigade.”
Photographs – Richard Polden
