It’s out with the old and in with the new at the Hume CFA’s base in Yuroke.
State government funding will allow the fire brigade to purchase a new field command vehicle in the next 12 months.
The cars are used in bush areas to take up to five volunteer firefighters and their equipment to and from firefronts.
Hume group officer Gerry Hauke said the brigade was thrilled it had been given more than $34,500 for the new car.
“Ours is 12 years old, isn’t diesel and isn’t a four-wheel-drive,” Mr Hauke said.
He said his group had applied for money from the state government’s 2015-16 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.
The program provides funds each year to local emergency services volunteer groups for operational equipment, vehicles, tankers, watercraft, trailers and upgrades to computers and software.
Eight smaller brigades based in Epping, Wollert, Kalkallo, Craigieburn, Greenvale, Sunbury, Wildwood and Bulla make up the Hume CFA group.
The Craigieburn SES unit was allocated about $99,000 to buy an additional vehicle.
Yuroke MP Ros Spence said the funds would help volunteer groups purchase the right equipment to respond to emergencies. “It’s a big cost burden and this funding will go a long way towards reducing pressures on our volunteers.”
