Stoked about new fire truck

Bunbury Volunteer Bushfire Brigade firefighters are “stoked” after taking delivery of a brand new fire truck last week.

The 3.4 urban fire truck replaces an appliance the brigade has had for 18 years and although the vehicle has been reliable for volunteers, captain Terri Kowal said the new one was well overdue.

“Definitely well overdue ... we’re very impressed and very happy with it, we’re stoked,” Mrs Kowal said.

“I was in the brigade when we got that (old) one, I’ve been there since day one with that one and I’m really thrilled to see day one and two with this one so far.

“It’s a beast, it’s great, it drives so well, there’s a lot of things that are the same as the old one, but there’s a lot of new things on there as well.”

Those “new things” include simple pleasures like bluetooth technology, power windows and cruise control.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services delivered the truck to the brigade through funding from the Emergency Services Levy.

“I think a lot of people wonder where their ESL goes ... this is one of the things it goes towards and we’re so grateful, we’re thrilled that we’ve got a new truck,” Mrs Kowal said.

She said while strengthening the brigade’s efforts to fight fires, the new truck had also “renewed enthusiasm” among the volunteer group.

“We’re going to be really pushing the training on it over winter so that when fire season rolls around, we’re going to have lots of confident, competent drivers, operators and firefighters,” she said.