Members of the Grass Valley Bush Fire Brigade have taken to a Shire of Northam council meeting to plead their case for a second fire fighting vehicle after reviews over the past decade have indicated risk associated with their current allocation of resources.
The brigade covers the largest geographic district in the Shire of Northam and turn out to the second highest number of incidents.
Grass Valley Bush Fire Brigade secretary and FCA Chris Marris addressed Councillors with a statement at a forum meeting on Wednesday, September 12 on behalf of the 50 volunteer members.
Mr Marris said the Department of Fire and Emergency Services allocates a number of vehicles to each Shire and it is the Shire’s responsibility to allocate them to their brigades.
Currently Grass Valley has one vehicle and in a statement the brigade said reviews by the Shire of Northam have acknowledged a need for more over the past 15 years.
“For over a decade it has been acknowledged that the risks from fire in the Grass Valley distract are too great for our one appliance to meet yet we are still fighting to secure a second appliance for our Brigade to give our community the protection they deserve,” said the Grass Valley Bush Fire Brigade’s submission for the 2018 Risk to Resource Review.
“In 2011 the Resource to Risk analysis resulted in the following statement for Grass Valley ‘… a 1.4R is urgently required to assist the 3.4. Very dependent on farmer response’.
“The previous Resource to Risk had the same sentiment that a second appliance was needed.”
A Risk to Resource Review is undertaken by the Shire periodically.
One is currently being undertaken.
The Grass Valley Bush Fire Brigade covers 100,000 acres of land with geographical and physical barriers including the Mortlock River, the Golden Pipeline, the eat-west railway and Great Eastern Highway.
“We can’t simply be on both side of these barriers with just one appliance,” said Mr Marris.
“Every time we leave our district to support incidents in the west of the Shire and in other Shires, our local communities are left exposed with no fire appliance.
“This is further exacerbated by the fact that our surrounding brigades may take over one hour to turn out.
“A lot can go wrong in one hour.”
Mr Marris said the re-allocation of vehicles within the Shire can be done at anytime.
Between members of the brigade 16 questions were asked to Councillors during the meeting discussing the risk under the current allocation of trucks.
“At a number of incidents, including the major Grass Valley fire, the Grass Valley appliance has had to leave the fire unattended multiple times to refill water due to the delay in neighbouring brigades arriving on scene,” said Lieutenant Sam Moss.
“Does the Shire believe this is an ideal situation?”
Mr Marris said under the current allocation of resources in the Shire of Northam the ideal situation would be to give one of three vehicles from Irishtown to Grass Valley.
He said as with all brigades, Irishtown is an ally.
“Irishtown Bush Fire Brigade is an active brigade and it is common for both our brigades to attend an incident particularly in the Jennapullin and Irishtown districts,” Mr Marris said.
“Unfortunately, despite their strong membership list they appear to find it difficult at times to have a suitable crew for turn-out, particularly if they need multiple units.
“Thus it has not been unusual for our brigade to arrive at an incident within their fire district at a similar time to or before their own unit.
“We want to stress that we value the tremendous support and efforts of all surrounding brigades.
“Without them we would be in real trouble.”
Mr Marris said underutilised vehicles are at risk of being taken away from the Shire by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Shire of Northam chief executive Jason Whiteaker said another vehicle could be allocated to Grass Valley through an internal review process.
He said the idea had been spoken about in the past and gave issue with another brigade.
Mr Whiteaker said if members of council agree, re-allocation can go to council to decide.
Councillor Steven Pollard said in order to consider the relocation a review needs to show one brigade has an oversupply off vehicles and another has an under-supply.
The Shire of Northam executive manager development services Chadd Hunt said the 2018 Risk to Resource Review is currently being undertaken but is unlikely to be done by the 2018/19 bush fire season.