By EMMA SUN
FOR those who want to know what it takes to be a firefighter, Mount Evelyn CFA has kicked off its recruitment drive and will be hosting an information session for anyone interested in joining on 10 July.
Captain Jim Armstrong said the brigade was looking for operational firefighters and people with specific skillsets who can aid the brigade during callouts.
“We are hoping for people who have availability during the day time to respond to incidents, which is where we struggle the most,” he said.
“It could suit a shift worker, or stay at home mum, someone who works locally, or a university student.
“We’re also hoping to attract people with specialist skills, such as a truck or bus driver who has a heavy vehicle licence, or a tree lopper – something that is a good skill to the brigade.”
Capt Armstrong said it was were also looking for people to support the brigade in non-operational roles.
“There are lots and lots of stuff we do that’s not fighting fires – we have a management team and a fundraising committee, who work on lots of activities that go towards running the fire brigade,” he said
“Those positions don’t have to be done by qualified firefighters, they can be anyone that has an interest in doing that sort of thing, which includes participating in the street party, community safety activities in schools and kindergartens and fetes.”
The brigade has also started a fundraising campaign to raise enough money for a new fire car.
Capt Armstrong said letters will be posted out to each household to alert residents of the upcoming recruitment drive, and encourage them to donate to the brigade.
“We’re hoping that the community supports us in that – a new ultra-light tanker is worth more than $100,000 and we’re also hoping to replace our car at some point as well, and that’s about $80,000,” he said.
“Only two of our trucks are supported by the CFA, these two aren’t, so it’s really through local fundraising within the local community that we can get it changed over.”
