Farmers will be able to take an unregistered vehicle for use in firefighting responses, as part of a new trial from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Transport for NSW. 

Under the new trial, farmers will receive a registration exemption, allowing farmers to drive vehicles they use for firefighting purposes unregistered within a 100km radius of their home.

RFS North Western Area Commander Heath Stimson said that the trial could prove useful to build on the existing collaboration between farmers and fire fighters when it comes to blazes on rural properties. 

Farm Fire Units were a common implement on many farms, usually consisting of a small truck, ute or trailer carrying a tank of water that could be rapidly deployed when a fire broke out. 

“In so many cases in regional NSW, the farmers are first on scene with their private firefighting units,” Mr Stimson said. 

“It’s a great opportunity for farmers with unregistered private firefighting vehicles to become further involved.”

Under the trial Farm Fire Fighting Vehicles - or FFFVs - must be maintained in a safe operating condition and have fire-fighting equipment permanently attached to be eligible for the exemption. 

“It gives a level of comfort to know that (farmers’) vehicles don’t need to be registered in an emergency scenario and can get out and do what they can alongside their neighbours,” Mr Stimson said. 

Participating vehicles or trailers would still need to be of a safe operating standard to be acceptable.

IMAGE: RFS

With bushfire season now in full swing, Mr Grant encouraged farmers to nominate eligible vehicles to participate in the trial before it concluded on March 31. 

“If you’ve got a vehicle that’s in a safe operating condition and has firefighting equipment permanently attached, you can nominate it for the trial for use within a 100km radius of its storage address,” Mr Grant said. 

“Farmers should have the tools available at their disposal to safely and effectively fight fires on or near their properties, and this trial is taking us one step closer to ensuring that.” 

NSW Farmers member Garry Grant said that while the trial is a win for firefighting efforts, there is more that could be done to improve circumstances. 

“Being able to use these vehicles legally and under the protection of third-party insurance would be the ultimate goal of this trial, which we welcome as the hot weather continues,” Mr Grant said.  

“If the trial is successful and (FFFVs) can be operated while unregistered into the future, this would provide the clarity and assurance farmers have been looking for when operating these vehicles along public roads.”  

To nominate a vehicle for the trial, complete the trial nomination form and provide two photographs of the nominated vehicle.

With bushfire season now in full swing, Mr Grant encouraged farmers to nominate eligible vehicles to participate in the trial before it concluded on March 31. 

“If you’ve got a vehicle that’s in a safe operating condition and has firefighting equipment permanently attached, you can nominate it for the trial for use within a 100km radius of its storage address,” Mr Grant said. 

“Farmers should have the tools available at their disposal to safely and effectively fight fires on or near their properties, and this trial is taking us one step closer to ensuring that.”