Batemans Bay NSW Fire Brigades’ four new fulltime personnel are ready to make an effective firefighting unit even more so following their appointment this month.
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The retained firefighters, who work on a part time on-call basis, will continue with the brigade in this capacity, while new fulltimers Greg Symonds (station commander), David Perry (senior firefighter), Mark Ovey (senior firefighter) and Jamie Ridley (qualified firefighter) will be at the station from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 4pm on Friday.
“The retained firefighters have been doing an excellent job, but whereas they have to leave their place of work or home on their day off to attend an emergency, we will now have a turn-out time of three minutes after the bells go off,” Mr Ovey said.
However, the difference will be more comprehensive than just improved response times.
“We have the capacity to inspect premises such as nursing homes and dangerous goods sites to ensure that Australian compliance standards are being met,” Mr Symonds said.
“We will also be conducting familiarization training to be prepared for a major incident.”
Mr Symonds brings extensive experience from working for the NSW Fire Brigades’ structural fire safety unit to the Batemans Bay brigade.
He was involved in the inspection of such sites as the Lane Cove Tunnel and the Epping Rail Link.
Mr Ovey took the opportunity to remind the public that the number to ring in a fire emergency is 000, and not 112 and other numbers that have been quoted recently.