Island fire fighters breathe easy

Phillip Island is one of more than 200 CFA branches to receive new breathing apparatus sets.

The CFA said generous community donations from the 2019/20 bushfires will fund more than 200 breathing apparatus (BA) sets to brigades across the state – some receiving the capability for the first time.

In a recent media statement, it said the CFA and Brigades Donations Trust was allocating $2.25 million “to purchase this important equipment which improves our capability and protects the health and safety of our firefighters.”

The Phillip Island Fire Brigade received two new breathing apparatus sets.

“These sets have been a great addition to our fire brigade,” said a brigade spokesperson.

“Breathing Apparatuses are vital equipment for our firefighters as they protect from harmful products at fires and incidents.”

Other brigades in the area to receive the new BA sets include Sorrento, Mt Martha, Keysborough, Koo Wee Rup and Baxter.

The overall project cost $2.75 million, with some brigades choosing to co-fund the project, expanding the program by nearly 20 per cent.

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the project funded one BA set and in some cases the brigade funded the second set.

“The additional funding support from brigades allowed us to extend the scope from 200 BA sets to a total of 234 BA sets and 468 BA cylinders,” he said.

“These are currently being delivered to 116 brigades across the state which will then be installed into their fire trucks.

“At the end of the rollout, 514 brigades will have BA with 43 of those brigades receiving the capability for the first time.”

Chair of the CFA and Brigades Donations Fund Graeme Jilbert said it’s great to see the community donations going towards such an important project which focused on increasing the safety of firefighters.