Victoria invests $53 million to expand firefighting aircraft fleet to 60
State grows aerial fleet from 53 to 60 aircraft to respond to forecast dangerous fire season.
The Victorian Government is investing $53 million to boost firefighting before summer. The aircraft fleet will grow from 53 to 60, with new bases at Leongatha in South Gippsland and Lethbridge in the west.
South-west, western plains, Central Highlands and far east Gippsland face high fire risk this season. Recent rain has greened parts of Victoria, but it will dry out in coming months.
This will increase fuel loads and give fires more vegetation to burn through. Emergency services warned that just one severe weather event could create major problems.
- $53 million
- Investment
- 53 to 60 aircraft
- Fleet size increase
- Leongatha and Lethbridge
- New bases
- 4 identified areas
- Risk regions
Why it mattersStronger aerial capacity directly reduces response time and can contain fires before they spread into populated areas.
AustraliaVictorians in high-risk regions will have faster aerial support if major bushfires break out this summer.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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