NEW FIRE TRUCKS ROLL IN FOR WOODEND
The Allan Labor Government is delivering modern firefighting vehicles to Woodend so volunteers have what they need to during an emergency.
On Friday, Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward and Member for Macedon Ranges Mary-Anne Thomas joined Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers and staff to officially hand over a new medium tanker and rehabilitation unit while thanking volunteers for their work.
The four-wheel drive Hino GT medium tanker fits up to five crew members in the cabin and replaces the brigade’s existing 25 year old tanker. Features include a 2000-litre water storage capacity for firefighting and an additional 650-litres for crew and vehicle protection sprays, as well as a front mounted monitor allowing the suppression system to be operated from inside the cabin - helping ensure brigade members are kept safe.
Funding from the Labor Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) gave more than $321,000 towards the new medium tanker, with the brigade contributing an additional $58,000.
The brigade also officially received its first dedicated rehabilitation unit, which supports volunteers working for prolonged periods or in hot and strenuous conditions. It can seat four crew members and carries health monitoring equipment, oxygen, water, heaters and fans, feminine hygiene packs, snake bite kits, and devices to track external weather.
Funding of almost $87,000 was secured for the unit through VESEP, with more than $46,000 contributed by the brigade itself.
Woodend Fire Brigade has a long and proud history of supporting the local community as well as the wider Mount Macedon region. Volunteers attend more than 200 calls outs each year including house fires, motor vehicle accidents, rescues, hazmat incidents and scrub and grass fires.
Minister Ward also visited the Malmsbury Fire Brigade, to announce that female CFA firefighters will soon have protective boots and gloves available to them that have been designed specifically for women.
This tailored gear, along with feminine hygiene packs, - which include tampons, sanitary pads and wipes - will be available in all CFA trucks and vehicles -two important initiatives to make brigades more inclusive and increase women’s participation.
The Malmsbury Fire Brigade’s 27 volunteers are 40 per cent women and respond on average to 100 call outs per year, recently supporting in the March Kyneton fire and the Little Desert fires.
Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“The Woodend Fire Brigade is an integral part of the Mount Macedon region. It’s a pleasure to officially handover the new medium tanker and rehabilitation unit to our hardworking volunteers.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward
“We are ensuring our volunteer firefighters have modern and fit-for-purpose vehicles and protective clothing so they can continue their vital work safely.”
“Women CFA volunteers are dedicated to protecting their communities and they deserve specifically designed protective clothing, and access to hygiene products while out in the field, to ensure their comfort and safety.”
