This page describes our current firefighting vehicles – as well as many fondly remembered older vehicles.
Current Vehicles
Shoreham 4.4C Heavy Tanker (2022 – Current)

Tankers are generally used in bushfires, shed and house fires as the water can be carried to where it is required and then used at the fire ground to extinguish the fire. The pump on a tanker runs independently, so that the truck can drive around and extinguish the fire.
The new dual cab tanker holds 4000 litres of water, features a 750-litre emergency water tank and a 1200-litre-per-minute pump. It is fitted with factory-fitted roll-over protection, ABS brakes, a water-cooled diesel pump engine for quieter operation and conforms to Euro 5 emission standards for reduced environmental impact.
The truck features a front-mounted water monitor which gives firefighters better ability to combat grass fires. Compared to its predecessor, this tanker holds much more water, has better pumping capacity and greater engine power which allow for better efficiency in our responses.
Operational equipment such as hoses, nozzles, standpipes, breathing apparatus, axes and other hand tools are stowed in lockers on the vehicle.
Shoreham Ultra-Light (2021 – Current)
The Punty Lane fire is regarded as one of the biggest fires the Brigade has confronted in the Shoreham district.
During the fight, it was noted the use of Ultra-Light Tankers from other brigades was invaluable.
With community support, the Shoreham Brigade purchased an Ultra-Light Tanker in 2021. These quick attack vehicles are used to provide a rapid initial firefighting response or to deal with spot fires. They have a small tank (500 litres) and pump – they are especially suited for hard-to-access areas.

Since its purchase, it turnouts to 80% of all turnouts with the tanker. It will generally arrive first and enables to the brigade to quickly get water onto fires for quick containment or to get senior officers to the site earlier to access the fire and tactics so that the tanker and crews can be deployed efficiently upon arrival.
Replaced Vehicles
Shoreham Tanker (1991 – 2022)

The Big Fill (2008 – 2021)

Older Fire Trucks

Jim Thomas explained that Ron McKillop was commissioned to pen a letter requesting a specific amount from each household in Shoreham to provide the funds to purchase Shoreham’s first tanker.
The letter was duly mailed out and, several weeks later, all available members went door-to-door collecting. Just over $3,000 was raised. This was the exact amount the CFA required for an Austin cab and chassis – with the CFA funding the balance to fit the vehicle with a tank and pump.
Before the fire station was built, the fire truck was housed at the Wrights’ sawmill (where the mill workers provided a ready-access crew).
The old Austin Tanker was replaced by a hand-me-down tanker.
The second truck was a 1340 International two wheel drive – later superseded by a four wheel drive International.
The international D1410 first released in 1976 was a popular 4WD tanker with a larger water tank than the Austin, pending a new vehicle.


The Rodeo Quickfills

Bill Kleiss noted that Shoreham Fire Brigade was the first brigade within the local group to introduce a 4×4 support vehicle. A Holden Rodeo was purchased in 1983 and updated many times. Since the changeover of the first vehicle, it cost no more than $200 on subsequent occasions to update to the next model.
Having bought the support vehicle, a quickfill pump was also acquired. It was a difficult piece of machinery that could not always be successfully primed. Red Hill happened to have a Rabbit pump that was self-priming, with the capacity to deliver a large volume of water – Shoreham clearly had to get something similar.
Unfortunately, the Rabbit pump was not available but the latest and greatest pump on the market was a Tohatsu, which retailed at the exorbitant price of $8,000. As luck would have it, Lets Elope won the Melbourne Cup and its owner, Dennis Marks, lived in Higgins Lane. Paul Murphy mentioned to Bill that Dennis would be interested in helping the brigade so I was despatched to him to explain our needs. He wrote out a cheque for the required amount – including enough extra to purchase 20 chairs for our meeting room.