Twenty-year-old trucks returning to their headquarters on tilt trays after fighting a fire are what the Rural Fire Brigade Association of Queensland says are being relied on in the absence of sufficient replacement funds.
Frustrated at what he describes as creative mathematics from the state government, RFBAQ general manager Justin Choveaux has challenged both major parties to commit to building 60 trucks a year for the Rural Fire Service to maintain the status quo needed for the rural fleet.
"That's it, just a yes/no answer," he said.
According to a Rural Fire Service fleet update of June 2019, 60 vehicles a year are needed to replace the fleet in a 15-year window.
Twenty-five trucks were scheduled to be built for rural brigades in the 2019/20 financial year.
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford has since said the accelerated delivery of 332 rural trucks since 2015, including 119 last year, put it ahead in terms of a replacement strategy.
"Twenty-five new RFS trucks are scheduled to be delivered this year, which is in addition to 332 new RFS trucks delivered since the 2014-15 financial year," he said.
Mr Choveaux said he had been informed 21 trucks would be delivered this financial year along with 20 in the 2020/21 financial year.
"You do the maths - they've produced 332 vehicles from 2014/15 to 2018/19, which includes 42 built by Campbell Newman, plus 21 this year and 20 the next, then divide it by seven years - that's 53 trucks a year, or 42 short of the recommendation.
"That leaves them six trucks behind each year.
"We've seen the erosion of rural fire brigades year after year.
"I think it's a reasonable expectation for the community, after two big fire seasons a row, to see more financial support for rural fire brigades but it's not happening.
"Instead, the government is going to put money into a big plane that doesn't do any hazard reduction, or community education, or search and rescue."
At the end of February Mr Choveaux questioned the sense in the government leasing a 15,000 litre Air Tanker to fight bushfires at a cost of $18 million, when many rural brigades don't have a fire truck to operate with and while the RFBAQ was relying on raffles and public donations to equip some brigades.
One of the brigades hoping for a modern replacement is Federal, based at Pomona on the Sunshine Coast, which has two 20-year-old trucks plus a younger model.
The brigade's first officer, RFBAQ president Ian Pike said they were among a number of older units in the region that didn't have the technology or the pumping power of modern ones.
"They don't prevent us from doing the job in our local areas but they probably come home on a tilt tray," he said. "Some did from the Cooroibah fires."
The brigades have been responding to up to five reports of backyard fires a day during total fire bans and have been deployed to Mundubbera and Gayndah this season, on top of Baffle Creek and Kingaroy fires last year, while all Sunshine Coast trucks travelled to Townsville to help with the flood clean-up in 2019.
"It's frustrating - the government is spending a lot on shiny red trucks for the streets of Brisbane and we're getting further behind," Mr Pike said.
The Federal brigade is on the list to have both trucks replaced in the 2021/22 financial year.
According to Mr Crawford, QFES had a scheduled maintenance program for its current Rural Fire Service fleet to ensure all vehicles were maintained to the highest possible standard.
"QFES' goal is to replace an RFS vehicle every 15 years," he said.
"However, this depends on the condition of the vehicle and its usage, and an assessment of operational need in consultation with brigades and regional management.
"Vehicles fit for purpose are used until they are deemed unsuitable and replaced."
The opposition's spokesman for fire and emergency services, Lachlan Millar said the rural fire truck funding cuts were a disgrace.
"Given the horror fire seasons we have experienced in Queensland you would think more trucks would be getting built, not less.
"It is completely unacceptable to be putting Queensland communities at risk by not building new trucks.
"The LNP will always ensure our rural fire brigades have the trucks and resources they need to defend their communities."
Mr Crawford said the Palaszczuk government would outline its funding commitments closer to the election.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
