Mount Isa Fire Station has inherited an operational support unit from their colleagues on the Sunshine Coast. 

The new truck will be critical when local fire crews have to deal with hazardous materials or where electronic command and control is needed to manage an emergency. 

Related: Firemen earn their stripes

This new vehicle transforms into a fully operational command centre, supporting personnel on the ground during large-scale emergencies – and north west Queensland has its fair share of fires, floods and truck crashes.

Mount Isa firefighter Patrick Buck says the new unit gives the station more capabilities and less dependence on other centres like Townsville. 

It also makes it much easier to haul vital equipment out to accidents and emergencies. 

“We are a long way from everywhere out here. There is a lot of highway between here and the next major centre,” Mr Buck said.