A SUGGESTION to have at least seven paid firefighters at every blaze across the state has been knocked back by one of the region’s Country Fire Authority members.
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Media outlets have reported the United Firefighters Union have asked state government to ensure seven paid firefighters attend every Country Fire Authority-region blaze.
Country Fire Authority District 17 operations manager Dale Russell said such a request could not apply to the Wimmera’s brigades.
He said there were no paid firefighters in the region.
Mr Russell said such a request was put in place, it would only affect bigger centres.
“Stations in bigger regional areas have integrated fire brigades,” he said.
“That means there is an integration of volunteer members and staff members.”
Mr Russell said no brigade in the Wimmera, even the largest in the region, Horsham Fire Brigade, had a integration system similar to cities including Bendigo and Geelong.
“In the Wimmera we have all volunteer members,” he said.
“That’s how fires get put out – by volunteers.
“This is referring to outer metro stations.”
Mr Russell said the request could be a way for brigades to ensure a brigade’s ability to respond to a fire.
He said that attendance at fires was not an issue in this region.
“Horsham Fire Brigade do about 240 calls a year,” he said.
Mr Russell praised the region’s firefighters for ensuring there was always enough people at fires when they sparked up across the region.
“They do a terrific job,” he said.
“The volunteer passion is very strong.”
Mr Russell said firefighters are not done for the fire season yet, with February notoriously the hottest month of summer.
“If you look back in history many major fires have occurred in February,” he said.
After a cooler start to the month, things heated up again in the region this week.
Tuesday was a total fire ban across the Wimmera, Mallee and South West.
Wednesday will be a day of total fire ban in the Mallee.
