New Community Fire Units for West Pennant Hills and Killara
Published: 1st August 2007
NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Deputy Commissioner Ken Thompson today announced the establishment of two new Community Fire Units (CFU) in Pomona Street, West Pennant Hills and Maytone Avenue, Killara.Deputy Commissioner Thompson said the two new CFUs were part of the NSWFB's ongoing commitment to local communities and the latest addition to a network of 350 CFUs across the state.
"Community Fire Units are made up of local volunteers who are trained and equipped to play an important role in the protection of property and assets during bushfires,” Deputy Commissioner Thompson said.
"I am pleased to announce that volunteers from Pomona Street in West Pennant Hills and Maytone Avenue in Killara are now ready to assist their local emergency service crews. They have been trained by firefighters from the NSW Fire Brigades Bushfire/Natural Hazards Section, Beecroft and Gordon Fire Stations in how to protect their homes from bushfires, hazard reduction processes and general bushfire management principles.
"I congratulate these residents for their responsible and community-spirited approach. They perform a vitally important role by raising awareness locally of the dangers bushfires present," he said.
Deputy Commissioner Thompson stressed that many homes continued to be under threat from burning embers after the main front of a bushfire had passed.
"CFU members stay with their homes to monitor and extinguish any small fires that might otherwise escalate and seriously damage homes. This enables NSWFB and Rural Fire Service crews to move ahead of, and attack, the main fire fronts."
Deputy Commissioner Thompson said that $2.6 million had been allocated to the ongoing establishment and support of CFUs.
The new CFU trailer in Pomona Street is the sixth CFU in the Beecroft area and the number of CFUs in the Killara/Gordon area is now at 28.
The CFU trailers are valued at $15,000 and include firefighting hoses, portable pumps, hydrant standpipe and fittings, safety helmets, gloves, smoke masks, goggles, boots and protective clothing, tools, and a first aid kit.
For more information on CFUs visit the Community section on the NSWFB website at www.fire.nsw.gov.au, and for more information on general bushfire safety, visit the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au