Volunteer firefighters in north Queensland are seeking answers after a fire hose reel fell from a nearly new truck while they were battling a bushfire near Mackay. The incident occurred on October 5 when a crew from the Habana Rural Fire Service stopped to inspect a fire break in Cape Palmerston National Park. As they were assessing the area, volunteers heard the low-pressure hose detach and drop from the back of the truck.

The crew was unable to move the vehicle until another team arrived to help. They cut the water-filled tubing loose and managed to move the 150-kilogram reel off the dirt track. Upon returning to the Habana station, crew members discovered that a separate high-pressure hose on the truck had been damaged during the bushfire and was nearly unusable. The truck has since been sent to Brisbane for repairs.

The Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ) expressed serious concerns about the condition of new medium-sized vehicles in the state. RFBAQ Mackay representative John Muscat stated, "If we've got to check a truck over that thoroughly before we take it to any fire … well, we're never going to get to the fire. I think, on a new truck, you wouldn't expect these sorts of failures. I think it put the fear of God into the volunteers that were involved."

The Queensland Fire Department reported that the fire truck had sustained damage from hitting a tree several days prior to the hose incident. They do not believe a mechanical fault caused the low-pressure hose to detach. However, inspections by Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) revealed that three other vehicles had loose bolts where hoses were attached.

These next-generation medium trucks were ordered by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in 2022 and delivered to various stations, including Habana, this year. In response to the incident, RFSQ issued a "safety recall advice," instructing RFS volunteers to inspect their vehicles. The service is investigating whether there is a broader issue with loose bolts on the trucks.

Approximately 60 medium-attack trucks, developed by Bell Environmental, have been distributed to stations across Queensland. Firefighters in Mackay have also raised concerns regarding the firefighting capacity of these vehicles. The state government’s tender specified that the single-cab model should have a water capacity of 1,800 liters, but the final model only holds 1,500 liters. The dual-cab trucks delivered hold just 1,200 liters, despite an original order for 1,500 liters.

RFSQ stated that these reductions were necessary to comply with weight limits due to the addition of improved safety features, including cabin strengthening and the installation of deluge systems and fire curtains. They maintain that the current water capacity is sufficient for safe and effective firefighting operations. Muscat expressed hope that the service would consider local concerns. Bell Environmental has not responded to requests for comment.