Cobar’s Station 256 debuts its new fire fighting weapon

Fire & Rescue NSW Station 256 debuted its new bulk water tanker this week after last week taking delivery and undergoing training to operate the new vehicle, which was donated by the NSW Police Force.

Fire & Rescue NSW Station 256 has recently taken delivery of a new weapon that will be lethal when it comes to fire fighting.

The brigade members this week have undergone training on the former Public Order and Riot Squad vehicle which was gifted to Fire & Rescue from the NSW Police Force.

The 12,500L bulk water tanker was previously used by the police for crowd control and as a barricade and arrived full of water.

Station 256 Captain Tony Walkinshaw said NSW Police had identified that the vehicle would “service a more useful purpose as a fire appliance”.

The Cobar station was chosen to house the tanker as part of Fire & Rescue NSW’s strategy for the western area due to imminent water shortages and will be able to respond to fires not only in the Cobar area but also in the
nearby towns of Bourke, Nyngan and Brewarrina.

Fire & Rescue NSW has deployed another bulk water trailer to the Warren station to ensure the entire western area is covered.

The Cobar crew were all keen to learn the ropes of the new tanker which only has 20,000km on the clock.