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Fire Equipment Upgrades Needed: NationalsGippsland’s Nationals members, Peter Hall and Russell Northe, are calling on the State Government to upgrade fire brigade equipment and facilities in the local area. By The Nationals - 1st February 2007 - Back to News Mr Hall and Mr Northe visited the Cowwarr brigade last week to assess how volunteers had fared during the dramatic Coopers Creek fire that swept through Cowwarr and Toongabbie areas in mid-December.
The Nationals’ MPs found a number of areas that could be improved quickly with appropriate Government support.
In a letter to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mr Hall pointed out the major areas of concerns, including the need for dual cab slip-on units to upgrade CFA vehicles, improvement to pumps on fire tankers, the need for portable radios and improved training and toilet facilities particularly at Cowwarr.
Mr Hall, in this letter to the Minister, said: "Our CFA volunteers across the State do a magnificent job and the least we can do is to support them with safe and effective equipment and appropriate facilities.
"I suspect that Toongabbie and Cowwarr brigades are not unique in their needs as expressed above and so there needs to be a greater commitment by Government to ensure all brigades are appropriately equipped."
Mr Hall said both brigades emphasised the need for a ‘slip-on’ unit for dual cab utes. The slip-ons are water tanks and pump systems that can be secured to the back of a vehicle to form a mobile fire fighting unit.
"While existing tankers serve a worthwhile purpose, the December experience clearly demonstrated a slip on unit was vital to best combat fast approaching fires that are spotting ahead," Mr Hall said.
"Privately owned slip-on units proved invaluable in these most recent fires and demonstrated such a CFA vehicle was essential to maximise the brigades’ fire fighting response."
Pump upgrades for existing tankers was another necessity.
"While the vehicles themselves are well maintained, the pumps can be difficult to start and pose risks at the fire front if there are delays in getting pumps started," Mr Hall said.
An upgrade program providing portable radios would also dramatically improve communications.
"In the absence of a slip on vehicle and the difficulty in using a tanker as a command vehicle, the use of private vehicles becomes a necessity. It was suggested that all Group Officers and Deputy Group Officers be issued with a portable radio."
Training and toilet facilities would also benefit brigades.
"Cowwarr has a desperate need for toilet facilities and it is entirely inappropriate to rely on the facilities at the Cowwarr Hotel or the blokes simply "going out the back". Given that volunteers can be at the station for long periods of time especially on fire alert days, toilets are a basic necessity. Both brigades also desperately need training and meeting room facilities and I would hope some funding for this purpose might be available," Mr Hall added.
He and Mr Northe will continue to urge the Minister to act as soon as possible.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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