Your brigade has been very busy over the last quarter with 29 turnouts in December and 40 in January. Whilst some were bread and butter calls to assist our neighbouring brigades we had two significant house fires in Clyde North with both homes totally destroyed. Both losses indicated that the source of these fires was unattended cooking in the kitchen. Please either turn it off or ensure someone is in attendance at all times. A third fire in Berwick was saved but will require extensive repair.
At the time of writing we have had a pleasant summer with no major outbreaks.
Our brigade was involved with the memorial service at Cockatoo on February 12. This service was to commemorate 40 years since Ash Wednesday.
The Brigade still has two members who experienced the Ash Wednesday bushfires, namely Tony Lukas and Ron Woodfine, and Murray Johnston who only recently transferred to Phillip Island Brigade. All of us were able to attend a moving and fitting memorial service with our junior brigade members led by 3rd Lt. Jason Mackenzie marching with and delivering the floral tributes to those laying the wreaths. The CFA family lost 14 members on that fateful day doing the job they had trained for in protecting our community.
The brigade will be at the Berwick show for fire protection and public information, a role that we have done, assisting the Berwick brigade, for 40 plus years.
Please stay safe in fire prone areas and remember if in doubt on a hot windy day JUST LEAVE EARLY.
by Tony Lukas
