By Olivia Condous
Moorabool Country Fire Authority fire brigades received vital new equipment this week as a part of a statewide rollout funded by bushfire relief community donations.
The Ballan, Gordon and Greendale CFA were a part of 116 Victorian brigades that received new breathing apparatus sets to be installed into fire trucks.
The CFA and Brigades Donations Trust allocated $2.25 million in donations to purchase the sets which will improve local CFAs capabilities and protect the health and safety of firefighters at incidents.
CFA and Brigades Donations Fund chair Graeme Jilbert said it was great to see the community donations going towards a project focused on increasing firefighter safety.
“The project also funds a newly developed breathing apparatus cylinder exchange system which will improve operational efficiencies and save time for our volunteers,” he said.
Greendale CFA captain Brandon Lebehen said the breathing apparatus equipment was a new addition for the brigade that was previously inaccessible.
“It’s an important bit of gear, it’s the highest respiratory protection that the CFA can offer,
“It’s able to give our members that extra respiratory protection, so they know they’re not breathing in toxic fumes, especially at house fires and care fires,” Mr Lebehen said.
“This bit of gear will limit the exposure, so the members at Greendale that are trained to go into these toxic situations, it’s all about their health.”
