Korumburra in dire need of new fire station

KORUMBURRA Fire Brigade requires a larger purpose-built facility to replace its existing station, with the need for a safer location an equally important priority, according to members. 

“When we’re coming back into the station, we have to reverse across a 60 kilometre per hour zone on the highway, and there’s very little warning for motorists,” Korumburra Fire Brigade captain Shane Maskell told Channel 9 news recently.

The lack of visibility for drivers near the fire station, in both directions, makes it particularly difficult for trucks travelling along the South Gippsland Highway to stop in time to avoid reversing brigade vehicles.

There is only about 50 metres visibility for traffic coming from Leongatha, Shane said, explaining fire trucks preparing to reverse from the middle of the highway are facing Leongatha.

“Being a 60kmh zone you need more than that to stop, especially trucks, and a lot of the time they’re doing a bit more than 60,” Shane said.

Shane noted the station’s close proximity to a school and kindergarten located slightly closer to the centre of town, explaining there is a crest in the road with a school crossing in the dip.

He also told the Sentinel-Times that as well as restricted vision preventing drivers from seeing fire trucks from a safe distance, many motorists lack patience or focus.

“When the truck’s moving across the highway we’ve had cars trying to drive around behind it and they just don’t want to stop,” he said.

Shane fears a mishap, pointing out it is a safety issue for brigade members and the public.

Safety concerns become even greater during morning and afternoon school drop off and pickup periods.

“At school times, it’s a lot worse because you’ve got parents, cars, children, buses and visibility is terrible if not next to zero from the town end,” Shane said.

People come out of the dip, over the crest and suddenly see a fire truck in front of them and often plough on, dodging as best they can.

Shane described peak school times as “absolute chaos”, explaining that applies for a total of about three hours every school day.

CFA District 9 commander David Chugg outlined the urgency for action.

“Korumburra is one of the busiest brigades I look after, with about 155 calls per year,” he said.

The town’s main CFA shed can accommodate three of the brigade’s four vehicles, with a support vehicle currently housed separately.

The fire station lacks proper change facilities, something that is not only awkward, but also potentially hazardous.

“Our protective gear is hard up against the side of a truck, so we’ve got to get dressed with exhaust fumes and moving trucks and try not to get squashed toes,” Shane said.

Both male and female brigade members have to change in one area, doing so in severely limited space, and often knocking heads or elbows on truck doors or mirrors in the process.

“It’s becoming more cramped and appliances are getting bigger, and we’re getting more gear,” Shane said of the increasing importance of a new Korumburra fire station.

Even gaining access to the station can be tricky for brigade members, with limited street parking often prompting people to park in the station grounds.

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien is campaigning for funding to be allocated for a new Korumburra Fire Station, saying it is one of many outdated regional fire stations, with Mirboo North another in need of updating.