MELBOURNE—Melbourne firefighters are set to battle flames and scorching temperatures in hi-tech new uniforms.
All Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) units will be issued, by next March, with distinctive gold garments made from synthetic flame resistant materials worn by NASA astronauts.
It follows years of campaigning by the firefighters' union for new uniforms, and a serious injury to firefighter Richard Zapart during a factory blaze last year.
MFB chief fire officer Tony Murphy said the new garments would provide better protection and greater support for firefighters.
"(Yarraville) was a terrible situation, one that no one's proud of," he said.
Mr Murphy conceded the outcome would have been different if Mr Zapart had been wearing one of the new uniforms.
But, he said, it was "only speculative" as to what the difference may have been.
Safety improvements would depend on the type of environments faced by firefighters, he said.
The uniforms are made in Australia and follow a comprehensive consultative process with firefighters and the University of Wollongong, Mr Murphy said.
"We've gone through a lot of review and a lot of testing in the field and we believe we've got the absolute world's best uniforms for our firefighters in Melbourne," he said.
"It's a significant enhancement from the current uniform we've got."
Improvements include back and knee supports, neck protection, and storage for torches and radios.
A moisture barrier will also protect firefighters from airborne pathogens.
Valued at $2,000 each, three sets of the uniform will be distributed to each of the 1,500 MFB members.
United Firefighters Union national secretary Peter Marshall said the new uniforms were six years overdue.
"It's absolutely disgraceful," Mr Marshall said.
"The MFB should hang their heads in shame.
"No doubt, had the MFB acted years ago a member would not have been injured."
Mr Marshall said the union had secured the new uniforms for firefighters in rural and regional Victoria.
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