A report to the WA Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) says firefighters face being trapped in their vehicles if heat from a fire causes truck brake lines to melt.

A 50 year specialist brake inspector and analyst told the Perth Sunday Times that if nylon brake lines now in use are damaged, the park and emergency brakes lock-on and the vehicle cannot move. Fred MacKay says these types of hoses are "approved for ordinary, run-of-the-mill, commercial-type vehicles, not emergency vehicles in extreme heat conditions.''

Mr MacKay first raised his concerns with FESA five years ago. He told the newspaper that nylon lines have ruptured after being exposed to hot engine parts and the fault had caused two truck crashes in WA.

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Read the full story from Perth's Sunday Times.