Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford today (Tuesday) officially opened the new $3.7 million Childers Fire and Emergency Services Facility – and handed over a new firefighting appliance worth more than $530,000.
Mr Crawford said the new facility at Childers, funded under the Accelerated Capital Works Program, housed both Fire and Rescue and rural crews.
"This facility reinforces the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to ensuring our emergency services are equipped to provide the best possible service to Queenslanders," Mr Crawford said.
"Our priority – along with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) – is to keep pace with the growing needs of local communities and the increasing workload of our staff and volunteers.
"The Childers facility allows for auxiliary recruitment training and other forms of joint training, has extra space for appliances, and ample storage for equipment and supplies," he said.
The Childers Fire and Rescue Station responded to 121 incidents since July 2017, including road crash rescues and structural, grass and wild fires.
QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who also officiated at the opening, said the new Type 2 Isuzu fire appliance for Childers was provided through Capital Fleet Funding.
"This appliance has been fitted with the new compressed air foam system (CAFS), which is an efficient high energy system used for its ability to provide fast knock down of fires and to increase the safety of firefighters," Ms Carroll said.
"Staff at this facility have been fully trained in the use of the new foam system and are ready for operational use.
"The appliance has also been fitted with the latest Core Road Crash Rescue equipment which is lighter and more powerful than the older generation tools.
"The equipment provides increased safety at emergency events, and will also boost the vehicle’s operational capability," she said.
