New Breathing Apparatus (BA) commissioned on a Tyers Fire Brigade tanker has proved itself a valuable resource recently, helping crews save a family home at an incident in August.
A $25,000 donation from BassLink following the 2019/20 bushfires, has helped Tyers Brigade secure two new sets of BA equipment in March this year to use fighting structural fires.
Tyers Fire Brigade Captain Ross Wisewould said the new equipment paid dividends when the brigade responded to a structure fire at a residential property in Tyers on 31 August.
“Arriving on scene, our members were confronted with a garage completely engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading to the family home,” he said.
“Our members were able to have a positive impact quickly by attacking the fire both internally and externally because we had the BA available to our qualified members.
“Our crews were able to save most of the house and contain the fire to the garage.
“Without the new equipment, the outcome may have been quite different.”
Ross said without the BA equipment, members of the brigade would have only been able to attack the fire externally while waiting for other BA-qualified brigades to arrive.
“Considering the time that would have elapsed before those other brigades arrived on scene, the likelihood of losing the home would have increased significantly,” he said.
“The members of Tyers Fire Brigade are proud of the way that we were able to uphold the CFA's mission to protect lives and property on that night.
Basslink Site Manager Mark Bostedt said he was pleased the equipment has helped better equip local firefighters to carry out their duties in a more efficient and safe manner.
“We are more than happy to support first responders to ensure that their wellbeing and the wider community’s safety is maintained,” Mark said.
The new equipment and qualifications will also allow the brigade to conduct BA training for other brigades in the District, assisting other volunteers to become qualified to use the equipment.
Ross said he expects the team of qualified structural BA members to grow by the end of year.
“Donations have been invaluable to helping our brigade serve the community,” he said.
“We are truly grateful for the support of BassLink in helping our brigade secure this equipment.”
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