27/07/2026
On Saturday at 12:00 pm, Pakenham Fire Brigade responded to a vehicle fire in the local area in support of FRV P93, with 14 members responding to the initial incident.
Our Pumper Tanker, Tanker, BA Support and FCV responded, with five members operating in Breathing Apparatus (BA) to safely extinguish the fire. Due to the location and nature of the incident, crews deployed several hundred metres of hose lines to establish water supply and safely manage the fire. Crews remained on scene for several hours before returning to John Street at approximately 4:00 pm.
Once back at the station, the work continued. Members thoroughly washed down all appliances, refilled BA cylinders, cleaned and rehung hose on our hose tower to dry, and restowed equipment to ensure every appliance was returned to operational readiness as quickly as possible. We were also fortunate to have some of our current General Firefighter (GFF) cohort assisting with these important behind-the-scenes tasks.
At 8:22 pm, crews were responded back to the same address following a re-ignition. This is not uncommon with vehicle fires, particularly where metal components retain significant heat long after the flames have been extinguished. To minimise unnecessary exposure to smoke and other hazards, the two Pakenham members who attended the initial incident reattended, alongside two additional Pakenham members, to extinguish remaining hot spots and ensure the scene was safe.
In total, 16 Pakenham Fire Brigade members contributed across both responses.
A huge thank you goes to every member involved. Whether you were on the fireground, back at the station restoring appliances, or supporting logistics, your teamwork and professionalism ensured a safe and effective response.
We’d also like to extend our sincere thanks to the supporting brigades, specialist appliances and partner agencies that assisted throughout the incident:
🚒 Officer Fire Brigade (Pumper & Rehab)
🚒 Pakenham Pumper Tanker, Tanker, BA support and FCV
🚒 P93 (FRV)
🚒 Nar Nar Goon Pumper
🚒 Toomuc Tanker
🚒 Hallam P88
🚒 Dandenong LP87
🚒 Hazmat 88 (Hallam)
🚒 BA38 (Richmond)
🚒 Scoresby Hose Layer
🚒 Bayswater BA Support
🚒 District Car 93
👮 Victoria Police
🚑 Ambulance Victoria
🌿 Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
A special thank you also goes to our neighbouring brigades who provided additional Breathing Apparatus (BA) operators to assist with relief crews. Working in BA is physically demanding, with firefighters carrying significant equipment while operating in hot, hazardous environments. Relief crews are essential to allow firefighters to safely rotate out as their air supply is depleted, manage fatigue and rehabilitation, and ensure operations can continue safely and effectively for the duration of the incident.
Finally, we’d like to thank our community for keeping the roads clear while emergency services were working. Your patience and cooperation allowed responding crews to access the scene safely.
🚨 A reminder: If you come across an emergency incident, please avoid the area unless absolutely necessary. While we understand it can be tempting to stop and watch, unnecessary traffic can delay emergency vehicles, make it more difficult for crews to work safely, and place both responders and the community at greater risk.
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe. ❤️🚒
📸 Images courtesy of the Pakenham Gazette. Thank you for allowing Pakenham Fire Brigade to share these photos.
