Around 40 CFA volunteers from across the Ovens Valley Group came together with representatives from Parks Victoria for their annual group training exercise at the historic Mount Buffalo Chalet, on Sunday 4 October.
Brigades involved included Gapsted, Myrtleford, Buffalo River, Mudgegonga, Rosewhite, Ovens-Eurobin, Porepunkah, Bright, Harrietville and Mt Hotham-Dinner Plain.
Representatives from Belgravia Outdoor Education also attended the exercise.
Ovens Valley Deputy Group Officer Rhett Chalwell said the exercise is an important annual event.
“It was really good to see members and appliances from all of our brigades there on the day,” Rhett said.
The training began with crews turning out from their stations to the chalet to assess response times in the event of an incident.
This was followed by a search and rescue exercise, where crews navigated their way through the chalet building.
The day concluded with a risk inspection and walkthrough of the facility led by Parks Victoria, giving members an opportunity to identify high-risk areas and familiarise themselves with the chalet’s newly upgraded fire suppression system.
Rhett said working alongside Parks Victoria and Belgravia was important to ensure everyone understood their roles in the event of an emergency.
“It was really good for our local members to hear what arrangements Parks Victoria has in place if there was an incident," Rhett said.
Parks Victoria Area Chief Ranger Julien Atherstone said the exercise was an important opportunity to strengthen preparedness and help protect the historic building.
“Keeping the iconic Mount Buffalo Chalet safe during fire doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning, coordination and practise,” Julien said.
“We are very grateful that these volunteers gave up their own time to make sure they are as prepared as possible for a fire in the building.”
The exercise also gave members from across the geographically spread Ovens Valley Group an opportunity to connect ahead of the upcoming fire season.
“Some of these members have never met before, so it’s really good to have people from within our group getting to know each other before the fire season starts,” Rhett said.
Ovens Valley Group Members-
Appliances from Ovens Valley Group
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Inspection of new Fire Suppression System
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Inspection of new Fire Suppression System
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Porepunkah Tanker with Mt Buffalo Chalet