Indigo Valley fire fuel theft a rotten act

Huon’s Max Wood provided his grader for the firefight and thought it would be safe at Indigo Valley Fire Station.

He was wrong.

The grader had not been used in three days, but when a staff member went to pick it up last Tuesday, he discovered the fuel tank was empty.

The issue was about more than $300 of fuel.

“It was just a lowdown, rotten thing to do,” Mr Wood said.

“The consequences could have been quite drastic or fatal if the machine was cutting a firebreak and running out of fuel at a critical time.

“We supply our machines, put in numerous hours of difficult and hazardous work for the benefit of the community, we don't really need these things to happen.”

The fuel cap would have appeared padlocked from a distance, but was actually left unlocked so firefighters could refuel if needed.

The cage, usually placed over the fuel cap, was found discarded by the grader’s wheel beams.

Thieves would have needed to siphon the fuel with a pump and hose.

Mr Wood and his son Martin, who ran Martin Wood Excavators, had been involved with the CFA for years and provided machinery without any issues.

He said if someone needed the fuel for an emergency, they would have left a note or got in touch.

“You can rule out firefighters, they wouldn’t have done it,” Mr Wood said.

“Somebody’s gone out with the intention of getting the fuel, there’s been no other motives.”

But the fuel theft would not discourage the family from providing equipment to firefighters.

“Regardless of this action, we will be back to help again when required,” Mr Wood said.

CFA district 24 operations officer Mark Owens said a theft with police roadblocks in place was unusual.

“Usually we don’t have many problems with looting, except when people are driving around in the cars afterwards,” he said.

“Police are usually very good about making sure they do their patrols.”