CFA BOOSTS WATER SUPPLIES AHEAD OF FIRE SEASON

CFA is bulking up its water supply this fire season with an additional $17.35 million invested for improved reliability and availability of water supplies for firefighting in areas with low access to water. IMAGE: (Supplied) CFA

By Jessica Dempster

The Country Fire Authority is investing an additional $17.35 million to strengthen water supplies for firefighting across Victoria ahead of the fire season.

The funding will establish 22 bulk water operational bases, along with new storage tanks, mobile water modules, semi-trailers and vehicles to rapidly move water where it is needed.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan says the investment follows last year's program and advice pointing to a potentially high-risk fire season.

“We're expecting another high-risk fire season this summer, so this investment is focused on strengthening CFA's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from increasingly frequent and severe emergency events,” Mr Heffernan said.

He says a large portion of the funding will go towards mobile bulk water carriers, reducing the time firefighters spend searching for and collecting water during firefighting operations.

Last season, bulk water carriers were activated for 44 days, logging more than 1,350 operational hours, with the CFA now expanding the program to improve readiness during periods of heightened fire danger.