On Sunday 27 November Caroline Springs Fire Brigade opened its doors to the community.
The day started at 8am with a team of volunteers setting out the activities for the day. the doors opened offically at 10am. A few visitors arrived at 10am and the crowd built to 120+ by the time of the first practical exercise - a motor vehicle accident (MVA). SSO Owen Tudball narrated the scene while staff from Melton demonstrated the hydraulic cutting equipment (Jaws of Life) extracting the 'casualty' after removing the driver's side of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the sausage sizzle was being well attended with an urgent call for more sauages by early afternoon. The other activities were well attended and the peak of interest was around 2pm. Lt Mick Wright said, "the day exceeded all expectation with an estimated 200+ people visiting the station over the day".
The day was interrupted, much to the delight of the 'children' present when the pumper and pumper/tanker responded to two real incidents.
Our visitors constantly flowed through the meeting room asking questions, collecting information, expressing interest in becoming a volunteer, etc.
At 1pm LFF Dan Finucane conducted a 'Fire Safe Kids' session with a very attentive audience participating and watching Firefighter Jake (FF Jake Box) 'Keeping Low and Go, Go, Going'. We all hoped he would try a 'Stop, Drop, & Roll' but all of the watchers were disappointed!!
Later in the afternoon a crew responded to the car that had suddenly caught fire and went about a practical drill with SSO Tudball again narrating the activities.
LT Wright thanked the staff for their assistance particularly the crew from Melton with the Melton Rescue, as we packed up by 3pm.
1st Lt Wil Fenech expressed his thanks to all of the staff (Caroline Springs and Melton) and the team of volunteers that worked at this most successful day.
2017 is now being planned!
Author: John Lloyd