The Eltham community and surrounds received welcome news this weekend, with the announcement that the old Eltham Fire Station on Main Road would be returned to service.
The former Eltham Fire Station, which is currently unused, will re-open as a volunteer-only brigade thanks to a $500,000 upgrade.
Eltham volunteer firefighters, their families and the broader local community welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino and local Member for Eltham Vicky Ward.
The announcement means volunteers will relocate to the former station by the end of 2018, while career firefighters remain at the current Eltham fire station, which was completed in 2014 on Brougham Street.
It is the result of extensive consultation with local volunteers and the wider community which highlighted the need for two distinct stations to operate concurrently.
CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington welcomed the announcement saying it was a significant achievement for the Eltham Brigade, volunteer firefighters and the wider Eltham community.
“The reestablishment of the old Eltham Fire Station is the result of extensive consultation between the Eltham volunteer firefighters and the State Government,” Mr Warrington said.
“The Eltham community and its surrounds will benefit from this model of service that sees volunteer firefighters operating out of their own station, with a career station nearby.
“For CFA, having a Service Delivery Model that meets local community needs is at the core of what we do, and this announcement at Eltham reflects this.”
Eltham Fire Brigade currently boasts 21 career firefighters and 35 volunteers, and operates four modern firefighting vehicles.