New kids on the block
The NSW RFS Technical and Fleet Services have released two new models of appliances - the Cat 6 Firefighting Appliance and Cat 13 Bulk Water Support Unit.
These appliances carry 9,000 and 11,000 litres respectively. Both are based on the same Single Cab, an Isuzu FVZ 1400, powered by a six-cylinder 24 valve SOHC engine with an Allison six speed automatic transmission configured with a hand lever operated transmission retarder. To improve the vehicles off road capability, the rear axles are fitted with both diff locks and cross locks.
fairly high acceptance for both vehicles by those who have viewed and used them.”
Cat 6 Firefighting Appliance The two key features of the Cat 6 are the extra large water storage and the monitor mounted on its bullbar.
Andrew Canderle, Manager Technical and Fleet Services said the Cat 6 and the Cat 13 bring a greater diversity and capacity to the NSW RFS operations and were designed with a view to the future. They both allow operations to be delivered effectively while using smaller crews, as well as providing improved access to possible water sources.
The Cat 6 can be operated by a limited crew, who can fight fires from within the vehicle cabin. The driver or passenger simply selects the correct spray range and water pressure to suit the incident. The operator uses a joystickstyle remote control which moves the bull bar mounted monitor on the truck. The Cat 6 prototype also includes an innovative on-board dual storage foam system allowing firefighters to choose either Class A foam for bush fires or Class B foam for vehicle fires.
“The development of these two appliances has been the direct result of dealing with the volunteers who use these vehicles,” he said, “We have a
The flow rate of the monitor is also able to be set with a range between 100 to 475 litres per minute, which would take anywhere from 90 to 20
Cat 6 Firefighting Appliance
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minutes to empty the tank. This setting allows the crew to adjust how much water is being used at an incident. Throughout the summer of 2012/13 the Cat 6 undertook field trials at several locations throughout NSW and was put to work on live fire incidents. The Cat 6 was operational at a grassfire in the Orana District in late January.
“Out west, sometimes our members are the only ones able to respond to an incident and the local farmers join them later. So this truck is brilliant for us.”
Cat 13 Bulk Water Support Unit The outstanding feature of the new Cat 13 is its extra large water storage on a truck with the size and manoeuvrability of a Cat 1.
Superintendent Lyndon Wieland commented on the performance of the Cat 6 at a fast-running grass fire near Jaymark Rd, east of Dubbo in the Mugga Hill Area.
The Cat 13 Bulk Water is a bulk water support appliance only. It comes with an 11,000 litre buoy wall and a single 30m live reel. With the pump pressure set at 300kPa it can pump 1,000 litres of water per minute.
“The crew who operated the truck were very impressed with it,” Superintendent Wieland said, “particularly the use of the water canon to take the heat out of the fire in the first instance.”
The Warringah Headquarters Brigade has taken delivery of the prototype Cat 13 appliance and put it into service at the West Head Fire in January 2013.
He noted that the biggest advantage was that the Cat 6 can be operated by a single person.
Captain of the Warringah HQ Brigade, Kevin Shadforth said the truck was leaps and bounds ahead of anything else that they had used.