The Cohuna Fire Brigade has a new appliance that will improve the services the brigade provides to the district.

The new Hino rescue appliance was delivered and presented to brigade members on September 19 and replaces the Isuzu appliance that has been in use locally for seven years. It is the first time in the brigade’s 31-year road rescue history that they have a brand new rescue appliance.

When the brigade became a road rescue support provider in 1993, it was given a second hand Ford F250 ute from Epping Fire Brigade, used until the early 2000s when they used their pumper. “In the early 2000s, we had our rescue gear part sharing on the Cohuna pumper, which is the structure truck that we take around Cohuna, and that was our rescue appliance,” said Captain Mathew Trigg.

It wasn’t until 2017 that the brigade got its first standalone rescue appliance, again passed on from Epping Fire Brigade when they received a new one.

After 30 years of providing road rescue support to neighbouring units, the Cohuna brigade reached a milestone last year when it was officially acknowledged as a road rescue principal provider with its own designated coverage area.

This year, another milestone has been reached, with the acquisition of its first brand new standalone rescue appliance, one of 21 road rescue appliances being replaced across Victoria and funded by the Victorian Government.

Brigade members have spent the past few weeks acquainting themselves with the appliance as it goes through a changeover period in preparation for going online in a couple of weeks.

“It’s been in the pipeline and the system for quite some time,” said Captain Trigg. “With this new appliance, state-of-the-art technology, it gives us more capability because it’s a lot bigger, and it’s built for the environment into the future.

“It can stow a lot more equipment, go a lot longer distances and provide protection to our members as well, because it’s a lot safer vehicle. Therefore, we’re a lot more capable.” 

Captain Trigg says the majority of brigade members are rescue accredited, with new members about to start their rescue course, and with the addition of the new appliance, the community is in good hands.

“We’re always increasing the capabilities of our brigade members by keeping their skills refreshed and also, when able, to increase their competencies by doing more courses.

“Therefore, with this new larger rescue, and the new members that are coming on, it will certainly enhance the community as well, better protecting it because we’ve got more members to turn out.” 

With the new larger appliance added to the local fleet and the brigade’s over 30-year-old grass fire tanker due for replacement, the brigade will be looking at once more extending the station.

The community will be invited to the official handover of the new rescue appliance soon.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 17 October 2024.