NSW Govt upgrades RFS vehicles with VaaN

The NSW Government has announced it is preparing for the upcoming bushfire season with the rollout of new firefighting tankers and cutting-edge satellite technology to keep crews more connected and safer during emergencies.

In a significant upgrade, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) vehicles will now be equipped with vehicle-as-a-node (VaaN) technology to ensure RFS personnel can communicate during a disaster in the most remote locations or if communication systems go down. The Starlink satellite technology will enable the use of radios, mobile phones and other handheld devices anywhere and at any time — even in remote areas or if communication infrastructure has been damaged during a disaster.

The upgrade will provide an important backup to communication systems and location-finding technology already in use. It will also give crews the capability to live stream video of fires from anywhere in the state, providing command centres with the latest intelligence about an incident. More than 5000 RFS operational vehicles will be equipped with the new technology over three years under the $69 million VaaN project.

The RFS is partnering with the NSW Telco Authority to deliver the communications upgrade, with installations beginning this year. The upgrade comes after the RFS delivered 143 new and 69 refurbished firefighting tankers to brigades across the state over the past year, with the refurbished trucks now featuring a halo sprinkler system for the cabin, custom-fitted heat curtains, electric hose reels, and portable Public Safety Network and fireground radio chargers.

“It’s important our volunteer firefighters have the right equipment and vehicles to do the job,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. “These new trucks and technology upgrades will boost the protection of communities across the state. We are providing our first responders with communications technology they can rely on when they need it most.”

“While the existing trucks have served our brigades well, it’s important that we safely equip members so they can best serve their communities across NSW,” added RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers. “Communications blackspots are a significant obstacle for rural firefighters and can make an already challenging operation even harder. This new technology greatly enhances our network of brigades across the state and will assist communities when needed.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Daria Nipot