WHILE an esky, iPad and traffic control equipment may not seem like essential tools for fire fighting, those items go a long way in the hands of RFS volunteers.
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The Rural Fire Service Association recently awarded about $1.7 million in grants to fire brigades across the state, with some of the money going to Pacific Palms and Coomba Park Rural Fire Brigades.
Pacific Palms secretary and Deputy Captain Russell Gardner said while the equipment seemed simple, the impact was large.
“We now have an esky so our volunteers can have cold water, which is essential when you are on the fire planes,” Deputy Captain Gardner said.
He said fire fighters currently had drinking water available on the truck, but conditions could get so hot their drinks would have warmed to 80 degrees by the time crew members could take a break.
Other important equipment the Pacific Palms fire service received were GPS units and an iPad for navigation and traffic control equipment.
Coomba Park Rural Fire Brigade received some helmet torches and their own traffic control equipment from the RFSA grant.
“Most of the roads here don’t have street lights and most accidents happen on a bend, so you can’t see the accident,” Coomba Park Rural Fire Brigade Captain Bob Manners said.
“Now we can safely wave traffic around the accident.”
Coomba Park Rural Fire Brigade also recently acquired a radio and a 22500L water tank from an NRMA. Grant.
Deputy Captain Gardner said his brigade appreciated all the grants it received this year.
“We’ve got a very good grants committee that’s been very good for the brigade,” Deputy Captain Gardner said.
“The amount of grants available is fantastic, it’s great to see organisations putting them up for offer.
“Pacific Palms Rural Fire Service thanks the RFSA and the various organisations that have provided us with grants over the last 12 months.”
