By Mark Mulcahy
The Border Mail
WANGARATTA, Australia — Wangaratta’s fire station staff and volunteers now have plenty of room to move.
The new fire station near the city’s police headquarters is a far cry from the old station in Ely Street where space was at a premium.
The new $3.75 million station was officially opened on Saturday by the member for Murray Valley Tim McCurdy.
He said it was state-of-the-art accommodation which involved an advanced integrated approach to emergency management, going far beyond simply providing firefighting capabilities.
A new $720,000 heavy-duty Scania truck was handed over to boost firefighting efforts.
There are about 20 full-time staff with 40 to 50 volunteers but more are always needed.
The station was open to the public yesterday with a crowd of parents and children taking the opportunity to see the facilities.
And just before 11 a.m., the children were enthralled when a call-out was received.
Staff donned their equipment, got in their new truck and headed off with lights and sirens going.
Mr McCurdy said when opening the station it would provide a significant boost to a range of emergency services.
“This multimillion-dollar fire station provides for rescue operations, aircraft operations, fire investigation, intelligence gathering and hazardous materials management,” he said.
“It also accommodates up to eight CFA firefighting appliances, including a new heavy-duty pumper, tanker, mobile communications vehicle and hazmat trailer.”
The brigade’s full-time and volunteer members have sleeping quarters for six people, a mess hall and meeting rooms with space for expansion.
The city’s first fire station was built in Ford Street in 1895 and its second in Ely Street opened in 1963.
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