New high-tech equipment for firefighters

A new state-of-the-art aerial platform will be stationed on the Central Coast to assist Fire and Rescue teams tackle highrise emergencies.

The $2.5M high-tech appliance is one of four new Aerial Platforms purchased by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) – the others going to Hornsby, Sydney’s west and south.

Featuring Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) technology, the trucks use a mix of foam and water to extinguish fires faster than previous models, and thereby use less water.

The vehicles have three tanks, holding 1,650 litres of water and 250 litres of foam in total, and have the capacity to pump at 6,000 litres a minute, – the most powerful pump on any Fire and Rescue appliance.

The platform’s ladder and enclosed cage can extend 24m in height, have a lateral reach of 11m and can lower three metres below the appliance, allowing firefighters to fight blazes or carry out rescues at various heights and rise over factory roofs to get to the seats of fires.

FRNSW is investing $38M in a 15-vehicle aerial fleet that includes four large, 45m Bronto ladder platforms already protecting Wollongong, Newcastle, Crows Nest and Parramatta.

Additional CAFS aerial platforms are stationed in Newcastle and Sydney’s