Hesket-Kerrie and Newham brigades recently joined forces to use the new training ground VEMTC Central Highlands ahead of summer.
As the first brigades from district two to use the ground, members ran through a motor vehicle accident and structure and smoke house props and drills, to provide insight into what they can expect.
Hesket-Kerrie and Newham work together in several ways, including fundraising, supporting events at Hanging Rock, and community days at each other’s stations. They realise a connected community is a more resilient one.
Newham Fire Brigade Captain Bryan Hornbuckle said it’s about covering each other’s backs.
“It’s not about empire building, it’s about community risk and knowing how best to cover each other’s backs,” he said.
Located in the Macedon ranges, both brigades know that planning and training together is important because emergencies don’t respect brigade boundaries.
They look after an area with a mixture of farms and bush properties, with parts of the Cobaw State Forest to the north, Macedon State Forest to the south and Hanging Rock in between.
The two small brigades respond together to incidents in each other’s communities, surrounding brigades’ areas, as well as joining forces to form strike teams and composite crews for fire and other emergencies.
Sharing these experiences through joint training sessions helps identify best practice, areas for improvement, and fosters camaraderie.
Training has included mobile props, scenario drills, burns-offs and members sharing knowledge such as air support expertise.
The two brigades have also shared resources including crews and vehicles, and Hesket-Kerrie is now fundraising for a new medium tanker.
Details: www.facebook.com/HesketKerrie
