During the devastating floods in 2022, Wirrate Fire Brigade lost everything - including their brand-new ultra-light, which did not have a chance to make it to a single job.
The lost ultra-light was replaced with one of the first new Ford Ranger models to be rolled out.
Not long after that, the brigade also had their medium tanker, that had served the brigade very well for many years, replaced with a new light tanker as a part of the District 22 vehicle replacement program.
Both of these new appliances were put to good use during the recent 2025-26 fire season, responding to both local incidents within the Tabilk Group and to the Longwood Berry's Lane fire.
The new ultra-light tanker holds 550 litres of water and is equipped with a Class A Foam System, pump, and other vital firefighting equipment including a chainsaw.
It allows the brigade to respond quickly to incidents with minimal crew; it also only requires a car license, meaning it is easier to get it out the door.
Brigade Captain, Hamish Fletcher, said because it is a small, more flexible vehicle, the ultralight came in handy as a part of an ultralight strike team that responded several times to the Longwood Fire.
"In the weeks after the initial response we were able to help with clearing roads and fence lines and support the local brigades with the huge amount of response requests they were getting for blacking out and making safe," Hamish said.
"The light tanker also got a good run throughout the season. It is great to finally have the whole crew in the same cabin.
"It didn't go away on any long-haul strike teams, but because the fire was right on our doorstep it was put to work."
The light tanker is a modern firefighting vehicle designed to operate across both rural and urban environments.
Equipped with a 2,000-litre water capacity and 4WD capability, the light tanker can navigate through challenging terrain with their low profile.
The maneuverability, allows firefighters to access areas that larger vehicles cannot, including tight urban streets and rugged rural environments.
