FORESTRY Corporation has taken delivery of three new fire tankers, including one in Grafton, to ensure New South Wales communities are safeguarded from bushfires.

The state-of-the-art category one tankers have been supplied by the Rural Fire Service (RFS), as part of its new build program, to bolster the state’s firefighting arsenal.

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NSW Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. Tara Moriarty MLC said the two other fire tankers would be stationed at Tumut and Bathurst.

“These firefighting tankers are equipped with the latest technology and safety features and will greatly assist Forestry Corporation to manage and contain wildfires in state forests across the width and breadth of New South Wales,” Minister Moriarty said.

“Forestry Corporation’s fire tanker fleet is ageing and renewal of this fleet aligns with the recommendations of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry following the 2019-20 bushfires.”

Forestry Corporation Chief Executive Officer Anshul Chaudhary said delivery of the new tankers would improve the interagency bushfire response across New South Wales.

“Working in with the Rural Fire Service to leverage off its build program means these tankers will be interoperable with the RFS fleet, which brings efficiencies and safety gains to the fireground,” Mr Chaudhary said.

He said Forestry Corporation would work with the RFS to replace the entire fleet of 50 tankers at a cost of almost $15-million over the coming years.

Forestry Corporation’s Fire and Natural Hazards Manager Rebel Talbert, a former NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner, said firefighters would be trained to operate the new tankers ahead of the summer bushfire season.

“Forestry Corporation is one of the state’s four core fire-fighting authorities, working alongside the RFS, NSW Fire and Rescue and National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect communities from bushfires,” Ms Talbert said.

“Forestry Corporation manages two million hectares of state forests and brings expertise in forest firefighting and heavy plant and machinery to the combined firefighting effort.”