By Victoria Stone-Meadows
While the State Government’s proposed changes to the CFA and MFB causes waves at some integrated stations, volunteer firefighters at Cranbourne are unfazed.
Cranbourne is one of 35 fire stations around the state where paid and volunteer CFA members work out of the same building.
Under the proposed restructure announced by Emergency Services Minister James Merlino last week, the paid members of the CFA would become part of new organisation Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
Volunteer firefighter and 1st Lieutenant at Cranbourne Dennis Latchford said the crew at Cranbourne didn’t see things changing much as the restructure takes effect.
“The feeling around Cranbourne is that nothing really will change,” he said.
“It’ll be business as normal because we will still be at the station with the same staff we work with now and have worked with in the past.”
Mr Merlino visited integrated fire stations around the state on Sunday 21 May to speak with paid and volunteer CFA members about the changes.
The restructure raised concerns around command between the CFA and the new FRV, but Mr Latchford said it’s nothing new.
He said the best vehicle for the job would be used and the two organisations would work together in the same way the paid and volunteer CFA firefighters had for years.
“That was bought up on Sunday, and it comes down to the call-out on the day,” he said.
“Different appliances are needed depending on the time of the year, so sometimes FRV will take the tanker, for example, if it’s needed and different trucks on other jobs that come through.”
“The equipment will be interchangeable at the same station as long as those driving it are qualified.”
Mr Latchford also said the restructure was something the crews had been expecting and believe would benefit the expanding Cranbourne and surrounding areas.
“There has been talk of some kind of merger for quite a while, so everyone had it in the back of their minds,” he said.
“It has happened quicker than what we thought it would, but in these growth areas we do need staff at stations to have those trucks out as quickly as they can.”
“Sometimes volunteers may be at work, but with staff they have a 90 second turn-out they have to meet, so it’s better for the community.”
