Room to move – Belgrave Heights and South Fire Brigade’s Aaron Carlton is rapt with the upgrad

BELGRAVE Heights and South Fire Station is up and running again following a much needed upgrade and a tough summer wait.
The brigade officially unveiled the $326,000 overhaul earlier this month.
Crew members operated from local homes to battle the summer’s fierce blazes while construction took place.
“Working from out of people’s homes was a bit hard,” former brigade captain Aaron Carlton said. “There was gear all over the place.
“It’s been a bit of a headache. That’s life.”
Mr Carlton the station had to be extended for safety reasons to accommodate a new larger truck.
“The length of the new fire trucks is much longer than the older ones,” he said.
“We only had about two inches of clearance between the front of the truck and the back of the truck when the doors were closed.
The brigade now has access to better training facilities, improved office space and a centralised turnout gear area following three years of planning and fundraising.
“We’re absolutely rapt with it,” Mr Carlton said.
“It gives the brigade room to move.”
Most of the money came from the State Government and the brigade raised $30,000 in donations.
“Obviously, we’d like to thank the community for their effort with that,” Mr Carlton said.