Emergency services personnel in Bunbury, Australind, Harvey and Pinjarra share $3 million in new vehicles

Four Fire and Rescue Service brigades and two State Emergency Service units between Bunbury and Pinjarra have been handed the keys to $3 million in new equipment. The Bunbury Career Fire and Rescue Service was the biggest recipient in the handover, receiving two light tankers and a heavy rescue urban pumper valued at a combined $1.31m. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson attended the Bunbury Fire Station on Friday for the handover. Mr Dawson said the fresh set of wheels were part of a $140m commitment from the State Government. “Our firefighters and our emergency services personnel do an amazing job helping keep our community safe,” he said. “From the government’s perspective, it’s really important that we equip them with the best PPE and best appliances that we can.” The career fireys’ counterparts, the Bunbury Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, also received a light tanker worth about $250,000. Within the Shire of Harvey, three emergency services groups have received new vehicles. The Harvey Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service was the biggest winner in the shire, being handed the keys to a hazmat structure rescue appliance valued at about $660,000. On the opposite side of the railway track, the Harvey State Emergency Services unit joined its counterpart in Australind in receiving a $150,000 general rescue ute. Further up South Western Highway, Pinjarra Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service was given an urban tanker valued at about $620,000. Mr Dawson noted the work of firefighters who have received the new equipment in recent months. “Many of these brigades units have been involved in the recent Nanga Brook bushfire and so they’ve been very busy, they’ve helped keep South West communities safe, so now it’s our turn to say thank you to them and to hand over the keys and give them these newer appliances,” he said. He was joined by DFES commissioner Darren Klemm, Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke and Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns at the announcement on Friday. Commissioner Klemm thanked crews for their continued dedication. “Across the State, we’ve seen consistently magnificent performances by volunteer and career staff with their commitment to keeping not only their local community safe, but they’ve travelled far and wide to help out other communities,” he said.