AS the fire season approaches, hundreds of CFA volunteers and career firefighters are gearing up to protect the community.
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Through a series of articles, The Courier will introduce the firefighters of the region.
The firefighters are divided into CFA Western District 15 brigade groups of Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Grenville, Eureka, Creswick, Glenlyon and Buninyong.
The largest of these groups, Eureka, has 300 members belonging to Sebastopol, Ballarat City, Ballarat, Wendouree and Buninyong brigades.
Eureka Group deputy officer Bill Cook said it was “community spirit” that motivated volunteer firefighters to provide their time to the CFA.
“There’s a perception that we love chasing fires, but that’s not the case,” Mr Cook said.
“It’s community spirit and a sense of wanting to help.
“I don’t see myself as a hero. That doesn’t sit that comfortably with me, but it’s nice to have respect from the community.”
Crews from the Eureka group of brigades were stationed at Grant Street, Sebastopol, on Saturday for a fuel-reduction burn consisting of 3000 square metres of gorse for a private landowner.
It is one of many preparatory exercises the group will conduct as the fire season approaches.
“We’re looking at an early start to the season so our training has been geared towards being prepared for an extended fire season,” he said.
Mr Cook said the Eureka group responds to 75 per cent of callouts in the CFA Western District 15.
“The number of calls we get is much higher than other groups.
“We require more members than other groups,” Mr Cook
said. “We are predominantly an urban brigade group, much like Bendigo and Geelong.”
Mr Cook said callouts in the middle of the night could be worrying, but they were all part of the community service.
“It gets a bit worrying after a while but you have to take them as the real deal,” he said.
He said day-time response by volunteers was gradually becoming more difficult.
“It is becoming harder for a day-time response, although some larger employers do have a volunteer leave policy,” Mr Cook said.
Above all, it’s the camaraderie of the Eureka group that ensures the job gets done and gets done well.
Mr Cook said the brigades had social meetings on Sunday mornings.
“It’s just nice to catch up with members away from fighting fires and training,” Mr Cook said.
david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au
