This is the first of a series of articles aimed at local residents interested in the activities of their village Fire Service.
Currently the Tallong Brigade is equipped with two Category 1 tankers and a Category 17 Long Wheelbase Landrover. The Cat Is are Isuzu four wheel drive trucks weighing in at over 13 tonnes with full 3600 litre water tanks. Their call signs are "Tallong One Alpha" and "Tallong One Bravo" and although, they look big and bulky, they are, in fact, surprisingly agile, and happily negotiate quite amazing inclines and obstacles. Some of our members recently experienced these capabilities during a Rural Fire Driver's Course over Mount Marulan and the Cookbundoons, details of which will be the subject of a later issue. The Rural Fire Service Continually updates its fleet and equipment and later this year "One Bravo" will depart Tallong to be replaced by a more modern unit.
The Cat 17 is usually crewed by the Brigade Captain and up to three volunteer Firies, and is used as a fast response and reconnaissance vehicle; it carries a useful 1500 litres of water and like its big Cat 1 brothers is equipped with Garmin GPS, VHF, and UHF communications.
The Cat 1 tanker is outfitted with crew "Fire Over-run" protection systems, 20 and 38mm diameter hoses and fittings and comprehensive first aid supplies including "Packer Whackers" (Defibrillators). Hopefully the brigade will never have to use them, but as we respond to more and more MVAs, (Motor Vehicle Accidents.) it's comforting to know they are on board. Interestingly, personnel using the de-fibs are guided though their operation by recorded voice instructions activated by the kit opening. Also residing in each vehicle is another piece of equipment hopefully never
required..... "Trauma Teddy".
Another useful feature of the Cat 1 tanker is its ability to replenish a second tanker while that vehicle is engaged in fighting a fire. The replenishing truck connects a 65mm diameter hose from its own outlet to an inlet in the belly of the fire fighting Cat 1 and engages its diesel pump. Within three minutes it has transferred its contents to the other vehicle, effectively doubling its capacity and ensuring that the first truck can continue fire fighting without the need to break off the engagement and drive to a re-filling point.
The Tallong Brigade Fire Trucks routinely re-fill from the "Painted Pot" reservoir opposite the Memorial Drive Fire shed, but often during a practice drill will travel to the Highland Way viaduct and simply 'snort' from, Barber's Creek.
This first article has probably been all about big red trucks and big boy's toys, but later issues will highlight the training, incident reports, and personalities telling their own stories. We think it's interesting and hopefully the readers of the Tallong Community 'Focus Group will gain some insight into the operations and the people involved in the Tallong Rural Fire Brigade.
Chris Boland President TRFS.
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