CFA celebrates 80 years at new Beaufort Fire Station

 

Beaufort Fire Brigade was officially handed the keys to their new station and heavy tanker today in an event that celebrated the past and present.

 

The volunteer brigade movement has been around in Victoria for more than 170 years, but on 2 April 2 CFA will celebrate its 80^th anniversary since it was formed following the findings of the 1939 Black Friday disaster.

Beaufort Fire Brigade Captain Tony Neville said brigade members, in its 151st year, were thrilled to be operating from the new station and using the new heavy tanker.

“Everything flows better,” Tony said. “All our trucks are on the one bay; we used to have separate sheds and had to move cars around to get to equipment.

“I think it may have also helped with recruitment with five new volunteers waiting to do their General Firefighting training.”

The new station includes essential amenities such as a motor room with three drive-through bays, offices, workshops, operational areas, meeting rooms, change rooms for both men and women volunteers, as well as unisex ambulant facilities. Externally, the station has a car park and a six-bay storage shed.  

To mark the occasion, a Willys truck and running cart were on display to show how far CFA had evolved in the past 80 years.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said there was no better place to mark CFA’s 80^th anniversary than with one of the oldest brigades in Victoria.

“This brigade has been there since CFA’s inception and it is just wonderful to be celebrating here surrounded by the history of this long running brigade,” Jason said.

“This new facility marks the beginning of a new part of this brigade’s history and one that will only improve the service CFA provides for their local areas.”

Beaufort Fire Brigade responds to more than 100 call-outs every year, attending bushfires, structural fires, motor vehicle accidents and heavy vehicle incidents, as well as supporting emergency response efforts of surrounding brigades.