ARARAT Fire Brigade will embark on a recruitment drive to sign up much-needed members ahead of the summer fire season.
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The brigade has about 15 active members who are able to respond to fires at the moment.
There are 35 all up, but brigade Captain Greg Taylor said they were looking for more firefighters who were available to respond to fires during the day.
“During the daytime we struggle more because people work,” he said.
“Even this time of the year, the causes for fires are less, but you still have to assist people in need which is what it is all about.
“Today you look at the weather and think it is cold outside, but there could a car crash, a building has an alarm go off, there all sorts of things we respond to.”
Gaining even the lowest level of qualification to respond to bushfires requires only two Sundays and two evenings of training.
Further training can then be completed to increase a new recruit’s skill levels and ability to take on greater responsibility during fires.
This includes HAZMAT, load structure and Class A foam training.
Mr Taylor said although the brigade was looking for firefighters who could respond within four minutes to an incident, there are many roles members could fill.
“Then it is up to the individual what career path they want to take in the CFA,” he said.
“If they don’t want to be an operational member there are other areas to be involved.
“I’d want to set up a creche system, where we might have some women who have kids, but know they can look after them during a call out.
“Perhaps we have a roster of people taking it in turns to look after them.
“One of our members is a mother with three children who is always keen but finds she can’t turn out as much as she used to.”
An information session from 2pm to 4pm on July 10 will give interested members of the community a chance to see inside the Ararat Fire Brigade Station and find out more information.
The four initial training sessions for new recruits would then be in October.