A replacement rural fire tanker will equip Western Bay fire fighters well for the summer, adding valuable water capacity to battle blazes.

Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson formerly handed over the tanker today at a special ceremony at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council attended by Western Bay Moana Rural Fire Authority Principal Fire Officer Alan Pearce, Chairman Peter Clark and members of the New Zealand Fire Service.

The new rural tanker.

The 2008 Scania 420 tanker was formerly a Fonterra milk tanker and has a capacity of 15,000 litres – far in excess of the current tanker's 3000-litre capacity.

The new tanker has been extensively refitted with large fixed and portable pumps to deliver water to a fire site.

Other equipment fitted includes hoses, a fire service radio, warning beacons, a siren and additional baffling in the water tank to keep it steadier on the road.

Some of the Greerton Fire Station officers will require training to use the bigger fire truck and volunteers will need to upgrade to a class four licence, says Alan.

'Rural fire fighting demands are increasing in the eastern end of the Western Bay and availability of water is difficult in some of the more far-flung areas,” he says.

'The new tanker will give fire fighters additional security of water supply when fighting fires outside of the reticulated areas in the Western Bay of Plenty.

'Being based centrally, the tanker will also enhance our other tanker resources at Te Puke and Katikati.”

Funding for the purchase and fit-out of the new tanker is covered by the Western Bay Moana Rural Fire Authority that is jointly funded by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Department of Internal Affairs, Tauranga City Council and supported by the Department of Conservation.

The previous tanker, which was based at the Greerton Fire Station, will be donated to the TECT All Terrain Park Volunteer Rural Fire Force.

The new tanker side-by-side with the old tanker.