Ironic, because the incident occurred only an hour after Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall officially handed over the keys to Inverell captain Robbie Wighton.

“Well, first of all, it wasn’t a set up,” Mr Marshall chuckled after the fact.

“The newspaper probably got the quickest response because all the firees were still at the station.”

He said it was great to see the modern equipment being used. 

“That’s what its there for,” he said.

The automatic-transmission manufactured in November 2015 truck replaced a 16-year-old manual veteran.

Inverell station officer Mark Savage said the state was transitioning to automatics to allow drivers to focus on their driving and destination rather than the distraction of shifting gears in an emergency.

“It’s a much larger vehicle in the back,” he said, opening doors and sliding up storage hatches.

“As time goes on, we keep acquiring more and more equipment to take, personal protective gear,” he said.

“In the old days, we had a uniform, and we wore that uniform for everything,” 

He said the new space afforded the spectrum of protective gear worn to incidents when conditions might change at any time.

Inverell mayor Paul Harmon appreciated the upgrade as much as the volunteers.

“I was a retained fire-fighter from about ’83 through to about ’91,” Mr Harmon said, and felt the role offered a chance to save lives.

He said the confidence exhibited by the state displayed in the provision of the new equipment could encourage people to step forward as recruits.

“I think it gives a boost not only to new people coming into the brigade, but also the current members of the brigade as well and it actually gives them a boost to say, we’re important and we’re valued and I think that’s pretty crucial,” he said.

Station officer Mark Savage agreed the new truck was important to volunteers.

“This sort of thing does boost the morale of the guys,” he said.