An innovative Hino 500 Series Wide Cab FM 2632 Ultra Heavy Tanker (UHT) will headline the Hino stand at the upcoming Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authority Council (AFAC) conference.
The fully operational UHT has a 10,000 litre water tank which can be operated by a small number of crew, and maximises the amount of water delivered to the fire front via a front mounted water cannon controlled by a joystick in the cabin.
The water capacity and ease of operation is particularly important given the volunteer shortages that some emergency services are currently facing, said Hino Australia Department Manager – Product Strategy, Daniel Petrovski.
“The new UHT has received extremely positive feedback from volunteers since its release in March and is one of many that will be rolled out to brigades over the next 18 months,” he said.
“Earlier variations of it have been trialled with success over the last four years and rural fire fighting volunteers were heavily involved in the consultation process.”
With 235kW of power and 1275Nm of torque, the A09C engine in the FM 2632 is well-suited to multi axle fire and emergency services applications.
“The six-speed Allison automatic transmission ensures better drivability and convenience for all drivers,” Petrovski said.
Other special features include an air Central Tyre Inflation (CTI) system that is fitted to all tyres and allows inflation or deflation as required for the cabin.
This is particularly used for lighting fires in the sand or other challenging low traction off-road conditions.
Also on display at the AFAC conference will be a 400 Series Wide Cab GH 1828 heavy tanker, which has been specifically designed and built for the Queensland Rural Fire Service.
“Of particular interest to fire agencies is that both GH 1828 and FM 2632 are equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), a standard safety feature,” Petrovski said.
The AFAC conference will take place on 22 to 25 August at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.