
By Sarah Schwager
CASEY’S CFA volunteers will be recognised at a council reception in April to honour their contribution to fighting bushfires this fire season.
Local firefighters have volunteered their time and resources in fires across Victoria without expecting anything in return.
They have done so among wild conditions, extreme temperatures and volunteer shortages.
Stories have come in thick and fast about firefighters heading off to Gippsland, other parts of Victoria and even New South Wales.
This is while also trying to control the number of fires and accidents locally.
Many brigades have also been struggling with membership and a lack of equipment. In the last month the News has reported struggles from Devon Meadows, Tooradin and Hampton Park fire stations.
Concerns range from needing more volunteers to having to fundraise to buy new equipment.
In the meantime, local residents have been turned away from some brigades because of a lack of staff to train the new volunteers.
Casey mayor Colin Butler will host the reception for CFA volunteers who reside within Casey and have fought in recent fires around the state.