The Country Fire Authority's Ballarat Fire Brigade is marking its 45th year of undertaking road rescues this year. The brigade formed its rescue unit in 1976 when it saw a need for the service in the community.

Recently the CFA and Transport Accident Commission (TAC) provided the brigade - the busiest in Victoria last year - with new equipment.

The new tools include a set of battery-operated spreaders - the main tool used at motor vehicle collisions to extricate people who are trapped - and a 24-tonne airbag, which allows members to lift vehicles or objects off people who are trapped underneath.

The brigade has also obtained two new tools for the first time - an inspection camera that can be manoeuvred to view inside tight spots and see exactly how somebody is trapped and a beluga knife blade that fits into a cordless drill and makes it much easier to cut through a windscreen.

Previously the brigade utilised a hand-operated cutter, though it was quite time-consuming as it meant the roof needed to be cut from the vehicle before cutting the windscreen.

Brigade Captain Mark Cartledge said the tools allowed the rescue unit to be much more efficient.

"All of the items assist the brigade in undertaking our duties a lot more quickly and more efficiently," he said. "It gives us more options - they're more tools in the toolbox."

The majority of the brigade's tools are now battery-operated, Captain Cartledge added.

"It allows us to get in and start our work a lot quicker now instead of trying to hook up hydraulic lines. We're moving away from hooking up those hydraulic lines and power leads.

"It takes away that tripping hazard and the possibility of electric shock and hydraulic injuries. But the best thing of all is that it gives us a quicker response time. Once we arrive on the scene and set up we can start to undertake the extrication or free the victim from entrapment."

So far this year the brigade has attended about 20 rescues, which is slightly less than other years. Each year the brigade responds to an average of about 140 rescues each year.

The number of road rescues the brigade responds to each year has doubled compared to a decade ago.

"We are starting to see more and more road trauma and it does impact on our volunteers and members of all emergency services.

"Whether volunteers or a paid emergency service worker, the trauma is real."

While the brigade has a "really good system" to manage the trauma its members come face-to-face with when responding to incidents, as well as access to peer support and mental wellbeing programs, it is still confronting.

The brigade is hoping to expand its rescue crew, which responds to incidents within a 30-minute radius in every direction from the Barkly Street Station - down towards Gordon across to Beaufort, Skipton, Rokewood, Meredith and north to Newlyn. But if needed, they can travel anywhere in the state.

Captain Cartledge attributed the increase to population growth as well as the design of new cars - which are designed to crumble, so people are trapped more.

"Although they are getting trapped and sometimes injured, there is less chance of fatality."

All members train in basic rescue but there are 21 road rescue accredited members at the brigade.

In addition to road rescues, the unit also responds to industrial rescues, farming incidents, domestic rescues (such as fingers stuck in objects) and animal rescues - from wildlife stuck in pipes or trees to cows stuck in dams.

The members also undertake low angle rope rescues, where harnesses and ropes are used to rescue patients from the bottom or top of slopes and aircraft and truck rescues - anything where a specialty is required.

Captain Cartledge said the brigade was currently looking at bringing another four or five members on board as well.

To become road rescue accredited, a member trains every Monday night for about six months before completing a theory and practical assessment process. They are then signed off to become an accredited rescue member.

To further expand the increasing need for the unit, the brigade will obtain a new rescue support vehicle by mid-year.

Currently being manufactured, the brigade has undertaken extensive fundraising to pay for it and hopes it will be parked in their station by June or July.

"It will leave a fairly big hole in our bank account. We are putting quite a lot of money towards it so we will be out there fundraising in the near future," Captain Cartledge said.

The brigade will also receive financial assistance from the state government's Volunteer Emergency Service Equipment Program to pay for the vehicle. The program pays $2 for every $1 the brigade raises.

The smaller truck will allow the rescue unit to carry more equipment.

"Over the years we have kept outgrowing our current vehicles. We always try to put additional equipment on it to enhance our capabilities but the one we have at the moment we've had for about 12 years and we have outgrown it.

"But it also gives us a bit of backup. So if our rescue unit is committed to another job, it can then respond and start working until the next heavy rescue gets on the scene."

To support the brigade, you can make a donation online at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa

Click CFA and Brigades Donation Fund and then Ballarat Fire Brigade (15865).