By Tanya Steele
A haunted house with a twist saw volunteer firefighters transform into zombies and roam the halls of their fire station this Halloween, much to the delight of the hills community.
Monbulk CFA volunteers transformed their fire station into a Haunted Station for Halloween this year in a first for the volunteer community group.
Monbulk CFA Captain Glenn Hickingbotham said it was amazing.
“We were just blown away with a response, I’d estimate we had up to 600 people through the station,” he said.
With ghouls hanging from the ceiling, blacked-out windows in the rescue bay, a smoke machine and some willing CFA dressed to impress – the free family event saw huge engagement from the community.
‘We also held a free barbeque, which the parents appreciated,” said Mr Hickingbotham.
With treats, scares and more the community got to get up close to a real working fire station and engage with their local volunteers in a fun way.
“They had chats with us, we had our trucks open so we could show them a bit for those interested,” said Mr Hickingbotham.
“Kids were getting up on the back of our tanker, on the back of our fire truck, and we helped kids up and down from there, so they could get on the back and have a photo,” he said.
“It was great, a great way to engage – some of the community didn’t know we were here.”
The Monbulk CFA had held a smaller Halloween event in 2023 but Mr Hickingbotham this year they decided to step it up.
“We thought, let’s do more, and let’s really engage with our community and make it fun. And we had fun,” he said.
CFA volunteer Nicholle Gathercole was largely behind the movement to hold the haunted CFA event this year.
“She loves Halloween – this year she got a budget and got a whole lot more decorations,” said Mr Hickingbotham.
Along with other members of the brigade including Karen and Susan, the volunteers transformed the fire station and Mr Hickingbotham said they had probably 10 members up in the afternoon getting it all set up and prepared.
“There were a number of us around, either dressed up and in the haunted room or doing this barbecue and talking with people coming through,” he said.
Plans for next year are already in full swing and Mr Hickingbotham said they want to change the themes and activities for the kids to keep the fun levels and interest up.
“It was a good thing, we thought – let’s just have fun,” he said.
“For the CFA, we tapped into that Halloween fun and we see this as a great way to engage and we had so many people coming through our station.”
“We are wrapped and really, really happy – everyone after was buzzing, and we’re just so stoked with the response. “
CFA Monbulk are actively recruiting and Mr Hickingbotham said they are always looking for new members.
“We always want to get more members on board,” he said.
