Brighton volunteer firefighters were recently handed the keys to a new, freshly fitted appliance at the Cole St station.
The new vehicle will be used by the brigade’s 18 volunteers to respond not only to local fire and emergency calls, but also medical alerts, vehicle incidents, search and rescue operations and natural disasters.
Chief Fire Officer Grant Tap said the new vehicle replaced the old model, as the only engine in the station.
Its larger size and more user-friendly layout would make it a valuable asset, he said.
"We respond to a lot of medical calls in the district. We’ve been first response on about 78 or 79 since Christmas, so it’s good to have more space and a better layout for all the gear to be readily available," Mr Tap said.
For anyone in the district who might need assistance in future, Mr Tap had a few safety tips.
"Do your best to tell us the rapid numbers of your property as well as address if you live rurally, and make sure we can enter the driveway safely so we can get the appliance with the hoses near the house. Any overgrown trees or hazards in the driveway can make our job more difficult," he said.
