The firefighting capabilities of Briagolong Fire Brigade have been boosted, thanks to almost $3000 in funding from Emergency Management Victoria.

Captain, John Hamment, said the brigade would receive $2875 from the Emergency Services Volunteer Sustainability Grants Program (ESVSGP), to allow volunteers to purchase a new chainsaw, lights and a generator.

“The extra generator is going to help us with lighting at remote incidents and the chainsaw is actually to replace an older chainsaw we bought 35 years ago ourselves,” he said.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the grant meant great things for the brigade, which received a light tanker under a similar funding stream during the term of the previous Coalition Government.

“Grants like this allow emergency service providers, such as the CFA in this case, to upgrade equipment that is vital to their rescue capabilities,” Mr Bull said.

“The volunteers at Briagolong and other brigades do a great job in protecting the communities and their surrounds from the threat of fire and this funding will further assist that.”

Mr Hamment said the brigade had applied for the next round of the ESVSGP to purchase a thermal imaging camera to assist with fighting fires, carpet for the brigade’s meeting room and ventilation for the shedding.

Mr Bull encouraged all local brigades to lodge an application to future rounds of this grant stream.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, with Briagolong Fire Brigade members John Hamment, Darren Rafferty, Margaret Henderson and Mike Coen, who will be better off after receiving a $2875 Emergency Management Victoria grant.

Friday, March 17, 2017