Hino will display an innovative fire services truck at the Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) conference being held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 1 to 3 September.
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations Hino will be displaying a 500 Series GT 1322 fire tanker belonging to the Tasmania Fire Service. Fitted with state-of-the-art emergency services equipment, the Hino fire tanker matches the theme of this year’s conference: ‘New directions in emergency management.’
The Hino 500 Series GT 1322 comes with a progressive specification including selectable four-wheel drive with high and low range, and a turbocharged intercooled six-cylinder J08E VE diesel engine producing 215 HP (158kW) and 637Nm. It is also fitted with the optional Allison 2500 automatic transmission which simplifies the driving experience – an important consideration as rural fire brigades are made up of volunteers who may not drive trucks regularly.
The truck on display at AFAC is the first rural fire tanker in Tasmania to be fitted with a compressed air foam system (CAFS), which shoots a dense foam over the fire area to quickly extinguish the flames and virtually eliminate the chance of re-ignition.
The CAFS foam can adhere to both vertical and horizontal surfaces while at the same time absorbing carbon and cutting off the oxygen supply to the fire. It also has the added benefit of substantially reducing the amount of water normally required to control a fire.
The Tasmania Fire Service has been using Hino 500 Series GTs since they were released on the Australian market in crew cab configuration in 2006, and around 70 Hino GTs have since been added to their fleet.
Hino Australia Chairman and CEO Steve Lotter said he is proud to be displaying the 500 Series GT 1322 on behalf of the Tasmania Fire Service.
“Hino is celebrating 50 years in Australia this year, and I believe that some of the most important work we’ve done during that time has involved supplying vehicles to Australian emergency services departments,” Mr Lotter said.
“We’ve developed vehicles with fire departments and state emergency services throughout the country, and they’ve taught us how to make our products more useful as a result.
“Our respect for them has led us to being a proud sponsor at the AFAC conference, and we’re looking forward to hearing about new directions in the emergency services sector.
“The Hino truck on display at AFAC really is state of the art – it’s a great example of what can be achieved with years of experience and good communication with our customers and suppliers.”
For more information the AFAC Conference, please visit: www.afac.com.au/conference.