Kinglake West Fire Brigade fights for funding to fix deteriorating station

Kinglake West’s CFA volunteers were at the heart of firefighting efforts on Black Saturday. Yet 10 years on their own neglected station is a hazard as they prepare for summer — with a leaking roof and cramped conditions part of the “ridiculous” problem.

Locals watch the Kilmore East Fire from the Kinglake West Fire Station on Black Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Heroic volunteer firefighters at Kinglake West are battling more than just fires with a leaky roof causing a slipping hazard for members rushing to an emergency.

The deteriorating station — where volunteers need to move the truck out of the engine bay to access their safety gear — has only received government funding once for a new door in its 42-year history.

The brigade’s second tanker is housed in a rear shed as there’s not enough space in the engine bay and some members are also forced to get dressed in their personal protective equipment in the back shed to allow them to change safely during call-outs.

The Kinglake West Fire Station in the late 1970s.

Kinglake West Fire Brigade captain Frank Allan said extending the engine bay forward by 6m would help solve most of their safety issues.

But a State Government spokeswoman said the station was operationally sound and had not been marked as a priority for an infrastructure upgrade at this stage.

“All CFA appliances are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are fit for purpose and safe for use,” she said.

Mr Allan has written to Northern Victoria state Liberal MLC Wendy Lovell to help secure government funding for an upgrade.

The brigade moved into the station at 1065 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd when it was formed in 1977.

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Over time the station was modified as the brigade and community grew but apart from a new engine bay door in 2016 all works have been funded by the brigade and the community.

“It seems rather ridiculous that after existing for over 42 years the Kinglake West Fire Station was not on a building replacement or upgrade program,” Mr Allan wrote.

“The fire station in its current form no longer meets the brigade’s requirements.”

A community briefing at the station in February 2009.

Kinglake West Fire Station in 1985.

They are also seeking funding to replace their larger tanker, which is almost 20 years old.

The brigade recently received a letter from District 12 operations manager Rob van Dorsser, which said the station had now been brought to his attention, but any funding for building and vehicle replacements were dependant on government funding.

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Ms Lovell called on Victorian Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville to commit to funding the upgrades.

“The heroic work of members of the Kinglake West Fire Brigade during the Black Saturday bushfires will never be forgotten,” she said.

Kinglake West Fire Station in May 2019.

Kinglake West Fire Station in 1991.

“It is unacceptable the current condition of the facilities at the Kinglake West Fire (Station) are putting brigade members at even more risk while they work to protect their community.”

Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville encouraged every brigade to apply for grants, including the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.

She said the government had invested almost $37 million in new CFA infrastructure projects over the past two years.

“We will continue to work closely with our volunteers in Kinglake West to ensure they are supported and well resourced,” Ms Neville said.

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