Bookings for our fire engine hire services are not confirmed until a deposit is received. Your enquiry remains tentative in our system until the deposit has been processed. We will do our best to contact you to confirm your details if we have not heard from you regarding your kids party services.
The deposit you make for your booking is to secure your date and time, ensuring our team and the fire engine will attend your event in Melbourne.
If the function date changes, your deposit will transfer to the new date and function.
Our fire engine hire vehicles are approximately 7.5-8m long, 3.5m wide, and 3.5m high. Please consider these dimensions when finalizing your event location, as it can be challenging for our team to navigate:
- Parking and traveling on steep hills and inclines,
- Small narrow streets where it may be difficult to fit past parked cars,
- Areas where the truck may not easily turn around,
- Reversing onto main roads and into heavy traffic,
- Streets with signage indicating no trucks allowed (a black truck with a red line through it),
- Busy parks, sporting grounds, and market locations which may have events on the weekend of your event.
We will do our best to accommodate requests for a specific truck for your kids party services; however, the Melbourne party hire team will determine the best truck to bring based on location, access, and availability.
Our packages are designed for up to 60 minutes. When booking an event for more than 15 kids, we suggest you book additional rides to ensure that no child misses out. Any events with over 30 kids may also require extra time to ensure we can accommodate all rides.
The balance payment for your fire engine hire is due on the day of your event or the day before your Fire Engine visit in Melbourne.
You can find the balance owing in your final booking form.
When planning your kids party services, please consider if siblings of the birthday child's guests will be included in the ride allocations. When confirming your party or event, let the Fire Engine Hire team know if there is potential for more rides on the day, and we will invoice accordingly after your event.
For private parties and family bookings, the outstanding balance is due on or before the event date, unless otherwise agreed. If payment is overdue, we will contact you to arrange payment. Any applicable late-payment charges will be clearly outlined in your booking agreement or invoice.
We understand that plans can change, particularly when organising celebrations with children and families.
When your booking is confirmed, Fire Engine Hire reserves your selected date and time and allocates our Fire Engine and team exclusively to your experience.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your booking, the following deposit refund arrangements apply:
Rescheduling
We understand that illness, weather and unexpected circumstances may mean your celebration needs to move.
Where possible, we are happy to transfer your deposit to another available date rather than cancel the booking.
All replacement dates are subject to availability and must be confirmed with Fire Engine Hire.
Wet Weather
Light or intermittent rain does not automatically prevent our Fire Engine experiences from proceeding. Our vehicles provide a sheltered space for rides, and we can often adapt activities to suit the conditions.
If severe weather or unsafe conditions prevent the experience from operating safely, we will discuss the available options with you.
Special Circumstances
We understand that unexpected family circumstances and emergencies can occur. Please contact us as early as possible if something affects your booking.
We are happy to review exceptional circumstances individually and work towards a fair outcome.
Fire Engine Hire works with event organisers, councils, businesses, schools and community groups to provide Fire Engine experiences and activities.
We understand that larger events require careful planning and that circumstances, particularly weather, can change.
When a booking is confirmed, we allocate our Fire Engine, team and equipment to the event and reserve the agreed date and time. This may prevent us from accepting other bookings during that period.
The following terms apply to commercial, community and organised public events unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.
1. Booking Confirmation & Deposits
A booking deposit of 30% of the total quoted event fee is generally required to confirm an event booking, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The deposit forms part of the total event fee and will be credited towards the final invoice.
Any additional payment arrangements will be confirmed in the booking documentation.
2. Event Cancellations
If the event organiser cancels a confirmed booking, the following cancellation arrangements apply:
Any deposit or other payments already received will be credited against the applicable cancellation amount.
Cancellation charges are intended to reflect the reasonable costs, commitments and losses associated with the cancellation, including staffing, preparation, transport arrangements and booking opportunities that cannot reasonably be recovered or replaced.
3. Weather Conditions & Event Safety
Fire Engine Hire can generally operate in light rain and changeable weather conditions. Rain alone does not automatically result in cancellation.
Operations may need to be modified, suspended or cancelled if conditions create an unacceptable safety risk, including:
The event organiser is responsible for determining whether the overall event proceeds.
Fire Engine Hire retains responsibility for assessing whether its own vehicles, equipment and activities can operate safely.
Both parties agree to communicate promptly regarding weather concerns and, where reasonably possible, consider practical adjustments before cancelling.
If the organiser cancels an event due to weather, the agreed cancellation or postponement arrangements will apply, subject to applicable law and any event-specific written agreement.
4. Event Postponement & Rescheduling
Where an event is postponed, Fire Engine Hire will make reasonable efforts to identify a mutually suitable replacement date.
Any replacement date is subject to vehicle, equipment and staff availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Where a postponement is agreed, the deposit may be transferred to the replacement booking.
Any additional charges associated with rescheduling, including non-recoverable costs already incurred, will be discussed and agreed before the replacement date is confirmed.
A replacement date should generally be arranged within three months of the original event date, unless otherwise agreed.
A maximum of two rescheduling requests may be accommodated, subject to availability and agreement.
If a postponed event is subsequently cancelled, the applicable cancellation arrangements will be assessed based on the confirmed booking terms and circumstances.
5. If Fire Engine Hire Cannot Deliver the Booking
In the unlikely event that Fire Engine Hire is unable to provide the agreed service due to circumstances within our responsibility, including an unforeseen vehicle or equipment issue, we will notify the organiser as soon as reasonably possible.
We will offer an appropriate alternative where available, which may include a replacement vehicle, revised service or mutually agreed rescheduled date.
If we cannot provide the agreed service and no suitable alternative is accepted, payments for services not supplied will be refunded in accordance with applicable consumer law.
6. Payment Terms
The balance of the event fee is payable in accordance with the invoice or written booking agreement.
Any applicable cancellation charges may be invoiced separately, with payments already received credited against the amount owing.
Our aim is to balance flexibility for organisers with the commitments involved in reserving our vehicles, equipment and team.
On the day of the event, we ask that you reserve car spots at the park or on the street where you are celebrating with our kids party services. We can use traffic cones to reserve these spots once we arrive, so your own cars are effective, letting any other party goers know the plan and ensuring easy access for our fire engine hire service.
If you have narrow streets, we recommend reserving car spots on both sides of the road: outside your house where the truck will park, and opposite the truck to facilitate easier movement for cars traveling down your street. Again, using traffic cones is effective, and letting your neighbors know our plan also helps ease any concerns.
It's a good idea to inform your neighbors about our arrival and that we are there to celebrate with you, rather than causing any alarm.
When booking, we will request a contact person and phone number. Please ensure that the contact is suitable for the event so our team can reach out upon arrival. You can update your booking if you need to provide a secondary contact.
Our team uses Google Maps to locate your event. If you have any suggestions on how to direct us to your house or venue, please share them when you book, and we will pass those details to our driver.
We will do our best to arrive on time for your event, even though circumstances beyond our control, like traffic, may affect us. Should we anticipate any delays, we will promptly contact you with our estimated arrival time.
Please let the team know when confirming your booking if there are any sensitivities to loud noises, such as those from our fire engine hire service, or flashing lights for any of the attendees. It’s helpful to prepare the parents of the kids invited for these occurrences and to advise our driver upon arrival if there is a concern.
The Fire House serves as the operational home for our fire engine hire services, where our vehicles, activities, and resources are stored and prepared for bookings. Experiences related to fire engine hire, including our exciting kids party services, are available by prior arrangement as part of selected offerings.
Parking & Arrival
Parking is accessible throughout the Business Park for visitors and guests. You may load and unload personal items in front of the roller door at Unit 4. Please ensure to park only in designated spaces and keep accessways clear at all times.
Food & Refreshment
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own food, drinks, and refreshments. The organiser is responsible for managing all dietary requirements of participants and guests. If any guests have severe allergies or require special accommodations, please inform us before your visit so we can make suitable arrangements.
Kitchen & Guest Amenities
The Fire House includes access to:
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Air fryer
- Pie warmer
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities
Basic kitchen items are also available, including:
- Serving plates
- Serving bowls
- Mugs
- Basic cutting utensils
We recommend that organisers bring any specialty serving items they may require, such as serving platters, cake stands, candles, matches/lighters, and containers for leftover food.
Kitchen Pack Add-On
A Kitchen Pack featuring disposable compostable plates, bowls, cups, and sporks is available for an additional per-person charge. Please reach out to our team for pricing and details.
Safety & Supervision
Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children at all times during our fire engine hire activities. Visitors must adhere to all instructions from Fire Engine Hire team members during activities, demonstrations, and fire engine rides. Organisers should ensure guests are aware of all safety requirements and restricted areas, as running near vehicles or accessing operational areas of the warehouse is not permitted.
Before You Leave
We request that visitors:
- Remove all personal belongings and leftover food.
- Return kitchen items and facilities to a clean and tidy condition.
- Dispose of rubbish in the bins provided.
- Report any damage, breakages, or missing items to a Fire Engine Hire team member as soon as possible.
Access Times
Access is provided 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Visitors may remain for up to 15 minutes after the scheduled finish time to collect belongings and complete pack-up. Enjoy your time with us as part of your Melbourne party hire experience!
We are happy to provide our Public Liability Certificate upon request, which is commonly needed when booking with venues and parks for fire engine hire.
All members of the Fire Engine Hire team have Working with Children Checks (WWCC) and these can be provided upon request.
Fire Engine Hire is committed to employing the best people for the job, ensuring that we reflect the diversity of the world we live in today. Therefore, your driver and entertainer may be female. If you have a special request for “Fireman Sam” for your kids party services, please let us know at the time of booking if you prefer a male to attend your event. We strive to meet your needs as part of our Melbourne party hire services.