Cade Lucas
The Werribee CFA responded to 850 call-outs in the last financial year, making them one of the busiest volunteer brigades in the state.
False alarms topped the list, accounting for 195 call-outs, with motor vehicle accidents next on 169, call-outs in support of external agencies such as Fire Rescue Victoria on 153 and fires and explosions on 144.
The brigade also responded to two ‘white powder’ incidents including one at the Watton Street office of Victorian Treasurer and Werribee MP Tim Pallas.
Of these figures, the number of motor vehicle accidents the brigade responded to was the cause for most concern.
Brigade captain Michael Wells said they represented an alarming reduction in road safety.
“I’ve been in the brigade nearly 35 years and we’re almost back to when I started in the late 80’s and early 90’s,” said Mr Wells, who emphasised that most of these incidents were the result of poor driver behaviour.
“They’re crashes not accidents, accidents aren’t preventable.”
Mr Wells said bad driving was also behind trends such as the rise in accidents on suburban streets and roads rather than freeways.
“I guess it comes back to complacency, people are driving roads that are familiar to them and think ‘it won’t happen to me.”
While conceding that population growth will inevitably make them busier, Mr Wells said motorists who are diligent, patient and respectful are less likely to need emergency services.
“If you want to meet the firefighters and see our rescue gear, you’re more than welcome to come to the station, I’d rather that than cut you out of a car at 3am” he said.
Mr Wells said prevention was the best way to reduce fires and that the Werribee CFA was on hand to help property owners keep their alarms, extinguishers and other fire safety equipment up-to-date.
As for false alarms, he conceded they were just part of the job and while the brigade was working with businesses with automatic alarms to reduce their number, they should always err on the side of caution.
“At the end of the day if someone calls triple-0 we’ll respond.”
