CFA volunteers train for renewable energy fire emergencies

By Monique Preston

Oct 7, 2024

Trainer Dale Cox speaks to a group of volunteers about tanker tactics. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

About 100 CFA volunteers honed their skills at a training day on Sunday, October 6.

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CFA Moira West group training officer Vernon Fettke said the day focused on learning about renewable energy facilities and equipment, and lithium-ion batteries, and how to handle fires involving them.

Mr Fettke said renewables were growing at an exponential rate and firefighters needed to make sure they knew how to deal with fires involving them.

“They need to know how to handle an electric vehicle fire, down to a kid’s scooter that has batteries,” he said.

With many houses also having solar panels, firefighters also have to know how to tackle fires that involve them.

“Given the amount of renewables these days, it’s important we know how to deal with them,” Mr Fettke said.

The firefighters from 14 brigades in the CFA Moira West group completed six training modules in small groups throughout the day at the grounds of Numurkah Solar Farm at Wunghnu.

One of them included Numurkah SES volunteers showing the firefighters the equipment they have available and where they can find it on SES vehicles so that firefighters can also help them at incidents, including car crashes.

Firefighters also learned how to use new radios that are to be rolled out across the group soon.

Mr Fettke was pleased with the number of firefighters who turned out to take part in the day.

“They are all volunteers. It’s a terrific effort of everyone to come,” he said.

“It’s a terrific sign our community is healthy.”