Farmers urged to sign up for bushfire-fighting vehicle trial

Farmers have been invited to sign up to a trial to help improve firefighting efforts. Photo: Supplied.

When a bushfire strikes, it is often farmers who respond quickly to help battle the blaze.

Famers across NSW are being invited to sign up for a trial of farm firefighting vehicles (FFFVs), especially as the current disastrous bushfires in the United States of America have served as a reminder of the devastation such fires can bring.

The second NSW Government trial, which runs until 31 March, exempts private farm vehicles used to fight fires from registration.

Participants can nominate a vehicle used for firefighting purposes to respond to emergency bushfire incidents on public roads within 100 km of their home.

FFFVs might be utility vehicles fitted out with hoses and other firefighting equipment, a NSW Government spokesperson said in December 2024.

These vehicles are often not used outside the farm, so registering them can seem unnecessary.

“Many farmers and rural landholders play an important role in fighting fires on their own or neighbouring properties, especially before emergency services arrive,” the spokesperson said.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said landholders played an important role in fighting fires in rural areas and often worked alongside NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and other emergency responders to keep fires at bay.

“If a fire breaks out on a private property, we want landholders to have options at their disposal to help stop it spreading and this trial is a commonsense solution to help fight fires,” he said.

Bushfires, like this one in the Sydney area, have caused massive damage to the country in recent years. Photo: Supplied.

On Friday (10 January), the NSW Farmers’ business, economics and trade committee chair, John Lowe, said the catastrophic damage caused by the recent bushfires in the USA was a reminder of the importance of having key firefighting tools available in emergency situations.

“Farm fire units play a key role in firefighting efforts in our rural communities, and a trial of these units will be key to ensuring we can find a permanent pathway to using these units legally and under the protection of third-party insurance,” he said.

“Stopping fires as quickly as we can is critical, and farm fire units have been a proven cornerstone to fast bushfire control, year in, year out on-farm.”

Mr Lowe said farmers deserved to have as many tools to fight fires safely and effectively as possible. This trial will take them one step closer to ensuring that, he said.

To nominate a vehicle for the trial, submit a digital farm firefighting vehicle nomination form by clicking here.

The FFFV vehicle must have firefighting equipment permanently attached, can only be used in connection with emergency bushfires, can only be used on road and road related areas within 100 km of their storage address and must be safe to use on the road.

More information on the program is available by clicking here.

The first trial was run between December 2023 and March 2024.

There is no charge to participate in the trial. It finishes on 31 March, after which the exemption will no longer apply.