Harkaway water no problem for CFA

By Jim Mynard
BERWICK Fire Brigade captain Alan Boyd says the CFA will not demand an increased water supply at Harkaway.
Captain Boyd was speaking at the meeting called to discuss firefighting resources.
He said the CFA managed to operate under prevailing conditions and with what was available, but said in an ideal world he would have a fire hydrant in front of every house.
“The Berwick brigade serviced most of Harkaway, but the Narre Warren North and Narre Warren East brigades covered other parts of the area.
“We work together. If we have a structure fire all three brigades will respond with four trucks in the initial attack,” he said.
“With other type fires, and events such as road accidents, we deploy two brigades.”
Captain Boyd said water was a topical subject for the area, but the brigades in their first attack had 10,000 litres on board.
“We can do a lot of work with that much water. If we need more we call in support.
“We can take water from tanks and dams, and the new school tanks hold 250,000 litres.
“If we had a major fire we would ferry water in, but in the case of a wild fire we would be able to draw water from several places.
“We have a tapping at Old Coach Rd, Hessel Rd, and soon another point will be available near Kurll Park.”
Captain Boyd said brigade members regularly familiarised themselves with the Harkaway area.
“We come up here for training and have developed strategies to attack fires that may occur in the main facilities.
“However, if you take out Ash Wednesday, fire has been a minimal issue at Harkaway. I can recall only three house fires here.”
He said the CFA had a working party looking at possible upgrades to tanks and expected a report to be presented in September.
Captain Boyd said at this stage the brigade had no other plans or requirements, and held a neutral position on the issue of water reticulation for Harkaway.
“We have to work with the resources available,” he said.