Firefighter Austin Schofield operating one of the new ground monitors.
New ground monitors which can pump 1000 litres of water a minute will improve safety and efficiency of local firefighting.
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Eight ground monitors have been received across the district this year by each of the local RFS brigades.
The Deniliquin RFS crew had a training session in use of the monitors Wednesday last week.
Mid Murray RFS learning and development officer Col Munro said the valuable equipment will make a difference in the safety and resources involved with fighting fires.
“Multiple other agencies use the surface ground monitor, and basically, they can be moved to a safer operating area rather than a manual branch hose which needs to be held by two or three people.
“With this we can take it in shifts, put it on the ground in a safer area, monitor it and do other jobs.
“As long as there is enough water to keep running it will operate.
“There are lots of uses for it, for example structure fires like the Deniliquin High School fire, hay bale fires, tip fires, dangerous tree or service station fires where it is stationary, and we need a large amount of water, safely.”
Mr Munro said the training was about safety in using the equipment, as well as confidence in its operation.
“It can pump twice as much water than a conventional firefighting hose; you just need the supply,” he said.
Austin Schofield and Col Munro train with the new ground monitor.
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