Captain of Towac RFD Steve Verdanega said it was “gut wrenching” to have water stolen from the fire brigade.

“You feel like grabbing that person… I don’t care if they run out of water, they can buy it,” he said.

“Don’t go and steal it from some people who could save your life. You’re taking from an organisation that’s saving people’s lives or houses,” Mr. Verdanega said.

John Black, the secretary of Towac RFS, said a maintenance worker on the roof of the fire station saw the manhole on top of the tank open.

“He went down and looked and found the lock removed and that there was no water in the tank,” Mr Black said.

Mr Black said he doesn’t know how much water was stolen.

“We’re not in the practice of checking how full the tank is, so we don’t know if how much water was pinched, it could have been 50,000 litres or 65,000 litres,” he said.

“We just assumed there was water in it.”

Mr Black said the theft had been reported to both police and council, and he’d requested council assistance to help replace the water.

But he said council have been “unable to supply us”, due to the tank also servicing the kitchen and showers in the fire station, and thus requiring a potable water.

Instead, the Rural Fire Service Headquarters have organised to replace the water “some time next week”. 

Despite fire season starting in less than three weeks and Orange having experienced the driest winter on record, Orange City Council spokesperson Allan Reeder said there was no broader threat to fire services.

“There is no impact for potential fire emergencies as there are other nearby sources of water in the event of a fire,” Mr Reeder said.  

Mr Reeder said council staff “have been in touch with [Mr Black] and the regional RFS headquarters” and have “heard details” of the theft.

He said Orange City Council “encourages any nearby residents to keep an eye out for anyone seen taking water from the tank in future.”

Conobolas Local Area Command Chief Inspector Dave Harvey confirmed the incident had been reported to police.

“Police are currently investigating this matter. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers,” he said.