.jpg "Photographer: Hunter Badham")
Photographer: Hunter Badham
Yarram Fire Brigade members gathered on Tuesday (24 March) to celebrate the beginning of construction on their new fire station.
CFA Commander Gary Bryant joined eager brigade members on site to mark the occasion.
With physical works now beginning, the Captain of the brigade Ian Badham said people have been working tirelessly behind the scenes long before any shovels hit the ground.
"It's been a long time coming," Ian said.
"We will be going from a station that was built in the 1950s to a nice new modern station that will serve us well."
The new station is being developed at 120-130 Commercial Road, Yarram and will replace the existing station currently situated at 24 James Street, Yarram.
The new station is being built to support the growing brigade and community of Yarram.
The station will incorporate a Breathing Apparatus (BA) facility, allowing nearby brigades to refill BA cylinders on site, improving operational readiness across the area.
Other essential amenities of the purpose built station include a motor room with three drive through bays, a hose drying tower, more storage space, operational areas and a multipurpose room.
External works will encompass the development of a car park and additional sheds for support vehicles.
Ian said it was a very exciting moment to share the commencement of works with the brigade.
"Everything went really well and it was very exciting to finally see that shovel hit the ground and know it was all going to happen," Ian said.
CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer District 10 Kade Dowie said he was pleased to see works begin.
"The station will be a great asset to the community," Kade said.
"It will allow Yarram Fire Brigade to continue providing dedicated service well into the future."
Yarram Fire Brigade has 25 members with 19 operational firefighters and six non-operational, seven of the members are women.
The brigade played a key role in the Wonnangatta-Dargo complex fires in January this year, adding to the list of major fires they have attended which also includes the 2019-20 bushfires and the Donnelly Creek Road-Aberfeldy fires of 2012-13 where members undertook asset protection in Seaton.
