On Sunday Roleystone Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service members got the keys to their brand-new Light Tanker.
The new Light Tanker is being commissioned as a replacement appliance. Funded by the Emergency Services Levy (approximately $320K), the Light Tanker appliance is designed to carry two crew with 500 litres operational water and 20 litres foam capacity.
Other features to keep the crew safe include Automated Vehicle Location, a partial deluge water system, radiant heat shields, chassis lagging, burnover blankets, and ‘in cab’ breathable air units.
Over the past two years, Roleystone VFRS has attended over 100 incidents including 66 over the past fire season with attendance at several large bushfires such as the Mariginiup and Gingin Complex Fires in 2023 and more recently the Red Hill, Bedfordale, and Nanga Brook Bushfires.
In addition to incident response, the Roleystone VFRS also commits many volunteer hours to training and supporting the community through a proactive Bush Fire Ready Group.
Currently, the brigade has sixty-six members, which includes a cadet program, and is led by Captain Aaron Kain.
Roleystone VFRS operates a permanent fleet of two appliances, with an additional appliance allocated during the High Threat Period.
Member for Darling Range Hugh Jones officially handed over the keys on behalf of DFES Minister Stephen Dawson.
“Congratulations to the Roleystone volunteer firefighters and DFES personnel who did such an outstanding job in the very challenging high-threat fire season that has just concluded. This has been one of the longest and most intense seasons for many years,” Mr Jones said.
“It was a fire season that just kept on giving and wouldn’t go away. It’s a tribute to the dedication and expertise of all concerned that there wasn’t any loss of life and we didn’t see large numbers of property loss, especially with several complex fires in this area alone.
“On behalf of the State Government and Western Australians, thank for the incredible job that you do in protecting local communities.”
Photographs – Richard Polden
