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A whole bunch of Mercedes-Benz firefighting automobiles utilized by Forest Fireplace Administration Victoria (FFMV) have been pulled from responsibility after faults allegedly associated to their equipment our bodies have been found.
Separate from Fireplace Rescue Victoria (FRV) and the Nation Fireplace Authority (CFA), Forest Fireplace Administration Victoria (FFMV) is run by the state authorities to cut back the danger and affect of bushfires.
CarExpert understands the security considerations are allegedly associated to the our bodies fitted to the FFMV fleet – equipped by a third-party contractor.
In 2017, the Victorian Authorities spent $32 million on 290 examples of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Skilled ute and 59 items of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog – an off-road truck utilized by army forces around the globe, together with the Australian Defence Power.
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“The Unimog is trusted by fireplace and rescue companies around the globe and has confirmed itself time and again in probably the most excessive environments,” Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia stated in a written assertion supplied to CarExpert.
“On this case, we perceive there isn’t any drawback with the Unimog itself.”
Information of the grounded fleet got here simply 24 hours after Victorian premier Jacinta Allan warned of the forthcoming bushfire season.
Whereas the precise nature of the issues stays unclear, these with inside data allege the our bodies fitted to the G-Class utes could have led to chassis cracking in some automobiles.
Authorities selected to take away all automobiles from service to conduct inspections and essential repairs.
“The protection of our firefighters is paramount, that’s why common security inspections of automobiles and gear are so vital,” a spokesperson for the Victorian Authorities instructed CarExpert.
“FFMV has introduced on-line extra automobiles to proceed endeavor important bushfire season preparations and reply to bushfire emergencies.
“These repairs are being fast-tracked over the subsequent two months and FFMV is engaged on agreements to safe extra emergency response automobiles from different states if required.”
As a part of the Division of Power, Setting and Local weather Motion, FFMV has a contingency fleet that features Toyota LandCruiser automobiles in addition to fireplace tankers and bulldozers used for fireplace response – whereas the CFA and State Emergency Service (SES) have additionally supplied automobiles for use within the interim.
In mid-2025, the SES launched authorized motion in opposition to a unique third-party equipment physique provider concerning related alleged points throughout its fleet of Japanese vehicles.
CarExpert has contacted the corporate that equipped the equipment our bodies to FFMV for remark.
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