PRESS RELEASE: Army of ARC Fire Trailers donated to Australian Animal Shelters.
Army of ARC Fire Trailers donated to Australian Animal Shelters.
• 30 Fire trailers deployed nationally with South Coast Firezones on first deployment
• Australian made and designed by local small business
• Animal Charity foots the bill for enormous Fire support donations
30/7/2020 For Immediate release. — Animal Rescue Cooperative has released the first 30 Fire Trailers and given them to shelters across the Australian Firezones. A $180000 investment coming from public donations, Fire Trailers are a helpful tool for the massive sanctuaries that will look after animals in the fires to come.
Australia was smashed in the summer fires and in the midst of the destruction thousands of volunteers worked tirelessly to help local wildlife sanctuaries. The Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC) stood up a national support program and gave away its entire donation base to Animal Rescues in need. That work still continues today.
“We have spent 96% of all our donations, over three million dollars. None of it was banked and we got support everywhere we could. The public trusted us to get it out there and we did” said Alli Cairns, a coordinator with the ARC project.
One of those investments is in Fire Trailers. Wildlife Rescuers were caught very unprepared for spot fires and evac. With fire season only a few months away, the team has been building a whole new line of support and defence. Fire trailers are easy to use and powerful support that can get into the zones fast when needed. The first 5 units of 30 in production have been delivered to help defend south coast wildlife sanctuaries and the rest are on their way.
“An Australian small business in the firezones came to us with a simple and affordable design. Standards based from easy to source parts. Industry standard 1000 Litre IBC, Standard Trailer, Standard Pump and made to get from A-B with no messing around. We have engineers on team who immediately said “this is how we do it”.
So far 30 trailers have been ordered and many of these are sponsored by individuals and companies wanting to help. As a result, they get to name a trailer. “It’s been colourful, good, we want these to be well known. Some of these an absolutea testimony to the finest people in rescue, others are named after family or organisations that acted to help others fast.
“#Friendly Jordies is an internet personality and donated over a quarter of a million dollars to help animals in need. There is no one more deserving of this trailer than Mel at Wolfhound Sanctuary who’s entire life was destroyed when the fires tore through her property in January” said Sally Bourke, Hunter ARC coordinator.
“I have begged and pleaded trying to get someone to step up and help these animals. That was until the most amazing rescue group in Australia – ARC came along and rescued both the animals and myself.Did I have to chase ARC, did I have to beg? NO, not only did they find me, contact me and then offer help all without me lifting a finger, they have been a constant support since. That is ARC – when they get funds they pass them on to where it’s needed.” Mel Murray, Wolfhound
“Atlassian Trailo is named after the company that not only alerted the world and the government that this was a serious issue, but they threw their own money into recovery and solar support for whole townships.”
Trailer locations and names.
Trailer Name Sanctuary donated to Location
Shane Fitzsimmons Peanuts Sanctuary South Coast NSW
Firey Mcfireface Left Field Wildlife Land Trust Sanctuary Kangaroo Island
What’s the Skip Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services Sydney NSW
#Friendly Jordies Wolfhoundworld wildlife warriors North Coast NSW
WIRES Total Fauna Solutions Western Sydney
Toto Africa Higher Ground Raptor Rehabilitation Centre South Coast NSW
Atlassian Trailo To be assigned SA
Nysa & Snoop Rescue and Rehabilitation of Australian Native Animals Regional NSW
Field of dreams Sugarshine FARM Hunter NSW
Riley Wild 2 Free Inc. South Coast NSW
Flipper Marlo Wildlife Shelter Gippsland Vic
Damien Hunter Horse Haven Inc Hunter NSW
Glorious Gloria rocklily wombats South Coast NSW
Kickin Koala HUNTER WILDLIFE RESCUE Bush Feeding Project Hunter NSW
Empathy Wombat Care Bundanoon South Coast NSW
Cloud 9 Lucky Stars Sanctuary South Coast NSW
David and Judy Moate Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary South Coast NSW
Vernon Tang Billie Dean Deep Peace Trust South Coast NSW
Doug Devon Valley Wildlife Shelter Gippsland Vic
Jason Momoa Red Gum Wildlife Rescue Gippsland Vic
Earth Greetings ARC/Orphan Lamb Rescue Farm South Australia
Ezekiel ARC Gippsland Gippsland Vic
4 x trailers for QLD TRC QLD Queensland
Everyone that knows Everyone Hunter Wildife Rescue Hunter NSW
Alpha Dog To be assigned North Coast NSW
PossumWood To be assigned SA
The trailers were designed by a local Australian small business. Parts are easy to source, low cost and field maintainable. They are big and easy to spot going to get things done. They throw out enormous amounts of water at a distance to help spot fires and slow down areas of risk.
“Fire trailers dont just do fires, they are an essential part of water cartage, drought support and in particular .. heat stroke events. They can be adapted to help with tree misting and cooling during heat events for bats and many many other means.” Said Alli Cairns, project lead
“The ARC team works closely with rescuers all over the country and as many of these as we can buy, we will be shipping out to rescue groups. The allocation is needs based on who needs them the most and who will use them all year round. “
They wont stop a forest fire but they can put out a spot fire and manage a roadside event hopefully until the big guns arrive with real trucks.
“Our allocation process is based on who was the most impacted this year and who has been working the most to help others in need. We will never have enough of these, there are thousands of rescuers around Australia, but if we can create a frontline support tool to help those right in the thick of it, then we have done something good. ”
How can the public help? Donate to help us buy more trailers and get more food and support to rescuers in need. You can name a trailer anything you like. See the trailers and sponsorship visit www.arcsupport.org.au/ffs
“We even have a giant pink one called “Barbie Dream Bus” which will feature in our campaigns later in the year. When it’s needed, Barbie will be right at the front line, she is just as effective as the rest of them.
For further information
Sally Bourke – ARC Fire Trailer Project [email protected] 0421 847 699
Alli Cairns – ARC South Coast Team [email protected] 0447 695 182
Derek Knox – Media Relations [email protected] 0418 203 954
For quotes from rescue groups themselves
Mel Murray – Wolfhound Wildlife Rescue (042) 282-5825 [email protected]
John Creighton – Wombat Care Bundanoon (049) 065-9245 [email protected]
The Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC) is a national volunteer group that rescues and supports rescuers nationwide. During the Summer Bushfires, ARC donors spent over $3m to supply food, rescue equipment, water and emergency supplies to Animal Rescuers everywhere. This equated to 94% of all its donations. The national organisation is a peak body for rescuers across
The ARC team came together from groups of specialist Animal Rescuers, professionals, volunteers and wildlife workers, all with the same goals. To build a national capacity for supporting the broad rescue ecosystem. The ARC work in conjunction with peak bodies, major rescue organisations, thousands of individual rescuers and the care sector to respond with scale and help animals in need.
