Rural Fire Association calls for urgent upgrade to ageing NSW fire trucks

The NSW Rural Fire Service Association has called for urgent state government funding to upgrade their ageing fleet of 3,820 fire trucks.

A NSW Rural Fire Service truck is seen at Torrington, near Glen Innes. Source: AAP

The NSW government says it will consider an urgent plea for funding to upgrade the state's ageing fleet of fire trucks.

The Weekend Australian reports that the NSW Rural Fire Service Association submitted a business case to the government to upgrade the fleet of 3,820 tankers last year.

NSW Rural Fire Service crews wash chemical fire retardant off their truck after it was dropped to protect houses at South Turramurra, north of Sydney. Source: AAP

Some trucks sent to battle the devastating bushfires that killed 25 people and destroyed 2,439 homes were up to 30 years old and lacked emergency sprinkler systems, heat-resistant materials, or did not have roll bars.

"With current expenditure, we can't replace them quick enough," NSW RFSA president Brian McDonough told the newspaper.

"Some of the trucks are over 25 years old and therefore the protection and technology is not the same as the trucks that are less than four or five years old."

NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott's office confirmed the NSW RFSA's business case has been received and would be considered in the state's upcoming budget.