Chirnside Park Fire Brigade officially came online on Wednesday 1 July 2015.
The event was celebrated with an evening attended by DCO Steve Warrington, Acting ACO Graeme Armstrong, Acting Operations Manager Tim Holland, Group Officer Ken Reed, Group DGOs, brigade captains and the members of the new brigade.
The Chirnside Park Fire Station was built in 2004 as a satellite station for the Lilydale Fire Brigade, enabling members from the area to respond quickly. At a brigade meeting in June 2014, the Lilydale brigade passed a motion for District 13 to commence the process of creating the Chirnside Park Fire Brigade. The Chief Officer approved, a public meeting was held and the request to ratify the brigade was passed by the CFA Board.
An election of officers was held in March and Neil Thompson was voted in as the brigade's initial captain.
To celebrate the new brigade the inaugural members were presented with a personalised copy of the registration of the brigade. The brigade currently has 22 members but a recent successful recruitment campaign will swell the ranks by another 15 in operational and brigade member roles.
The brigade will start out with its existing resources of a Type 3 pumper and 2.4C Tanker. The new brigade will be servicing an area that has a mix of industrial and commercial properties as well as 3,500 dwellings. A developing suburb, over 1000 planned dwellings will soon be added to the Chirnside Park brigade area.
The new brigade will enhance not only the operational capability of the district but will ensure frontline fire services keep up to pace with the needs of the busy and growing community in Chirnside Park.
Author: Sue Harley