Cade Lucas
Point Cook residents are being assured that hazardous chemicals found in soil at the local fire station pose no risk to firefighters or to the public.
Routine testing at Point Cook Fire Station station in February found elevated levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS chemicals.
Once commonly used in firefighting foam, PFAS chemicals are now classed as a human carcinogen and have been linked to numerous cancer cases among ex-firefighters.
Fire Rescue Victoria and the Environmental Protection Authority are currently testing for PFAS contamination at fire stations across the state as part of remediation efforts.
After finding PFAS contamination above EPA recommended levels at Point Cook, further tests are now being planned for neighbouring properties to determine the extent of the contamination.
FRV’s PFAS remediation project head Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mick Tisbury, said this was common practice and no cause for concern.
“Just because we do this testing doesn’t mean we have a problem” he said.
“This is about us doing our due diligence. If I thought there was any risk to those properties I’d make it a fire call and use the powers under the FRV Act to address the issue immediately.”
United Firefighters Union president David Hamilton agreed.
“There’s no human health risk for our fire fighters,” said Mr Hamilton who is also a member of the PFAS remediation project.
“If there was any risk to our fire fighters that station would be closed.”
FRV and the EPA are currently seeking permission from the owners of properties bordering the fire station to perform tests on their land.
Only when permission is granted will the testing of soil, water, concrete and vegetation on those properties begin, with any further action dependent on results.
“If it does require remediation we will be remediating it,” Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tisbury declared.
“We’re trying to undo thirty years of damage and it’s going to take a while.”
