Firies to get a new truck

THE Elliott Heads Rural Fire Brigade will get one of six new heavy support tankers, as part of the state government's Supporting Our Heroes campaign.

The 14-tonne vehicles will seat three crew and boast the latest equipment, including a 6000-litre water tank, fixed diesel firefighting pump and hose reel, and heat-reflective curtains to provide crew protection.

They will also come with a generator and lighting, stocks of respirators, goggles, personal protection blankets and firefighting gloves.

The other machines will go to brigades at Warwick, Birnan, Cawarral, Ravenshoe and Bowen.

“The government's Supporting Our Heroes election commitment provides funding of $2.52 million over four years for the construction of the appliances,” emergency services minister Neil Roberts said.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service's rural operations assistant commissioner Steve Rothwell said the vehicles would be an invaluable support to hazard mitigation and response activities, including air attack operations.

In addition to the new equipment, firefighters across Queensland will be helped by the arrival of three water-bombing helicopters this week, as another busy bushfire season looms.

The helicopters have been contracted by QFRS for the 12-week high risk period, with $1.5 million in funding allocated for aerial firefighting resources to provide rapid response capabilities.