MEDOWIE Rural Fire Brigade has added a fourth truck to its fleet.
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However, the new truck will not be used to fight fires. In fact, it cannot even store water.
Instead, it will be used to keep children entertained while firefighters educate adults on fire safety.
The NSW Rural Fire Service brigade welcomed miniature firetruck Mighty Mike to its station on Monday.
The wooden truck, modeled off the brigade’s pumper, was built using timber, glue and 12-volt electronics.
It was hand-built and painted by Bill Taylor, president of the brigade, in memory of Medowie firefighter Mike Maskey.
“I do a lot of woodwork. I’ve been making toys for many years,” Mr Taylor said.
“But I always wanted to do something special. I was wandering through Masters there one day and saw this cart for a tractor and thought to myself “that would make a good base for something”.
“I put it to the firefighters and this [Mighty Mike] is the end result.
“I spoke to a lot of the firefighters and they all agreed to dedicate it to Mike Maskey.”
Mr Maskey was a firefighter with the Medowie brigade up until he died in 2009.
On August 15, Mr Maskey’s wife, Rose, unveiled Mighty Mike before it was officially commissioned by firefighters.
Mrs Maskey said it was “eerie” that she was, unknowingly, invited to unveil the dedication to her husband on the anniversary of his death.
Medowie fire brigade captain Andrew Collins said the unit was fortunate to have such skilled and proactive members that could create things like Mighty Mike.
“Members are supportive of these sorts of activities,” Mr Collins said.
“Whether it community engagement, changes to training, buying new equipment, our members are very supportive and proactive.”
The brigade spent the money to buy the tractor cart, which is the base of Mighty Mike, and other materials used to build the mini firetruck.
Mr Taylor estimated that it took between 200 and 300 hours to build it.
Mighty Mike is designed to appeal to children.
It includes the flashing lights and sirens typical of a firetruck. A 22-inch television that shows simulations of firefighters attending a call-out is positioned where the windscreen in a truck would usually be.
The idea behind the screen is so that children sitting in Mighty Mike, watching the simulation and hearing the sirens, will feel like they are a firefighter.
Mighty Mike’s first public appearance will be at the brigade’s open day on September 10. The unit will be open to the public between 10am and 2pm.
The public can also expect to see the miniature firetruck at market days and fire safety events.
Mr Taylor said that while children play on Mighty Mike, they will have a chance to speak to parents about fire safety.
