With Christmas less than six weeks away, Gerringong Rural Fire Service unwrapped an early gift with a powerful Category 11 pumper ready for service across the region.

Gerringong RFS captain Adam Walmsley, who has served for over 17 years, told The Bugle it was a privilege to be the first brigade to have access to the Tatra truck and provide feedback on the model.

“It’s a significant step up for us in terms of functionality and capability,” he said.

“It’s a Tatra, which is normally used in mining [in Western Australia] and often in the Czech Republic military - it’s a beast.” 

Greg Ball (left) Adam Walmsley (centre) and Annette Wright (right).

Averaging around 140 call-outs a year, the new truck provides not only more power to negate the undulating landscape of the Kiama region, but a quicker response time.

“It is much more powerful, it’s got adjustable ride height, inbuilt light mast, breathing apparatus in the back of the seats and the pump is a significant upgrade from what we’ve previously had,” he said.

“It [also] means we can be getting ready on the way to a call-out and have BA [breathing apparatus] gear on and get out of the truck ready.

“It’s saving two minutes on a call-out, but it does make a difference in a house fire situation.”

In 2023, Fire and Rescue published research which identified critical factors in fatal house fires in NSW and one of the findings states “response time is a critical factor in saving lives, preventing injuries and mitigating fire extension”.

“We also assist both Fire and Rescue and other RFS brigades, so we tend to work most closely with Foxground, Shoalhaven Heads and Jamberoo,” Walmsley said.

“But as a primary village brigade, we’ve got responsibility for the primary response for Gerringong and Gerroa, so it is just as busy.”

A feature of the new pumper truck is the adjustable height ride, which means work health and safety officers can breathe a sigh of relief.

“When we all jump out in a hurry, it is not as big a fall,” Walmsley said.

With a tank that can store up to 3000 litres of water to five hoses, it can be a challenge for the pump operators.

“You’re balancing water in and out and making sure that it never runs out, but also that firefighters always have got water,” he said.

“You might have everyone using their hoses, so the pressure drops – and then everyone stops using it and the pump operator has to control it quickly, otherwise you can blow up hoses.

“The pump is so powerful that if you’re not paying attention, it can all go berserk quite quickly.”

Tatra trucks first entered the Australian market in the late 1990s through Larry Gill and his company Offroad Trucks Australia.

For those looking to take up their civic duties and volunteer, Captain Walmsley says there are positions for volunteers at Gerringong RFS.

“We’re recruiting again, so if anyone’s interested, they can apply online through the RFS website,” he said

For more information go to: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/join-the-nsw-rfs