Hesket-Kerrie Brigade gets new water tank

Hesket-Kerrie Fire Brigade has enhanced its firefighting capability with the installation of a new 240,000-litre water tank at the Hesket Fire Station on Woodend-Romsey Road, Hesket.

Hesket-Kerrie Brigade Captain Laurie Lovell said the new tank is ready for immediate use in the event of fire.

“Hesket and Kerrie are small, rural communities that are surrounded by open grassland and bush, which, in these drought conditions, can be a high fire risk,” he said.

“Having a dedicated, static water source for firefighting purposes is invaluable. The tank can fill the equivalent of 95 tankers, which provides us with tremendous operational capacity.”

Funding for the colorbond steel tank was provided by an $18,000 grant from the Commonwealth Government Water Fund with the brigade contributing a further $3,000 for installation. Water to fill the tank was donated by CFA brigades in the Macedon Ranges Shire, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and a generous local landowner.

Captain Lovell said while the tank project was a significant achievement for a small, rural brigade, the job was not yet done, with the brigade now looking to purchase a high volume pump.