Originally announced: 5 December 2019

Frontline Fire & Rescue Equipment was selected to manufacture new WA-built firefighting appliances under two contracts with a combined value of $125 million.

In December 2019, Frontline Fire & Rescue Equipment reached a significant milestone when the Western Australian Government awarded the company two major contracts to manufacture new firefighting appliances in WA.

The contracts, valued at $75 million and $50 million, covered the manufacture of new 4.4 heavy firefighting appliances and Ultra-Light firefighting vehicles. The program was established to strengthen Western Australia’s firefighting fleet and provide volunteer firefighters with modern, purpose-built vehicles for responding to bushfires across the state.

Supporting Western Australia’s Bushfire Response

Western Australia’s vast distances, challenging terrain and extreme conditions place significant demands on emergency response vehicles.

The new firefighting appliance program was designed to provide brigades with reliable and capable vehicles suited to these operating environments. The 4.4 heavy appliances included a range of cab-chassis options, giving volunteer brigades greater flexibility to select vehicles aligned with their operational requirements.

Ultra-Light firefighting appliances provide compact and highly mobile response capability, helping crews access varied terrain and respond efficiently in rural and regional environments.

Frontline’s involvement in the program reflected the company’s established capability in designing and manufacturing purpose-built rural firefighting vehicles for Australian conditions.

Expanding Local Manufacturing in Collie

The announcement also supported the expansion of emergency services vehicle manufacturing in Collie.

As part of the program, the Western Australian Government provided a $2.5 million grant to help Frontline establish manufacturing capability in the South West town. At the time of the announcement, the expansion was expected to create 17 full-time positions and provide new employment opportunities for workers with experience in heavy industry.

Frontline now operates manufacturing facilities in both Malaga and Collie, supporting skilled local employment and strengthening Western Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability.

The expansion into Collie represented an important step in Frontline’s growth and helped establish emergency services vehicle manufacturing as part of the region’s broader economic diversification.

A Milestone for Australian Fire Appliance Manufacturing

Being awarded the two contracts marked an important chapter in Frontline’s development as an Australian fire truck manufacturer.

The program demonstrated Frontline’s ability to deliver large-scale vehicle manufacturing programs while maintaining a strong focus on local engineering, quality, reliability and long-term customer support.

For nearly 20 years, Frontline has designed and manufactured specialised fire and emergency response vehicles for rural, urban, mining and aviation applications. Our vehicles are purpose-built to perform in demanding environments and support the people who protect communities, assets and critical infrastructure.

Through continued investment in local manufacturing, engineering and product development, Frontline remains committed to delivering dependable fire and emergency response solutions, engineered to perform when it matters most.

Read the original Western Australian Government announcement.