CRANBOURNE
cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 7 March, 2024
/Cranbournestarnews
@StarNews_SE
40¢ Inc. GST
Education key amid dog attacks
Painting a new picture
Looking spick and span
Co-captains for Eagles
PAGE 3
PAGE 6
PAGE 16
SPORT
Home fires fury By Violet Li A residential fire on Spartan Avenue has sparked fury over the undelivered Clyde North Fire Station. Eight garages and one townhouse were destroyed in the blaze on the morning of Sunday 3 March, less than 400 metres from the proposed station site. FRV’s Cranbourne senior station officer Geoff Baker, who was at the fire rescue, said if the Clyde North Fire Station had been built, it would significantly minimise the property loss. A Country Fire Authority (CFA) spokesperson said 12 CFA units along with FRV crews attended the fire. The incident was under control at 9am and deemed safe at 11.17am. Two people were taken to the hospital for observation. Mr Baker recalled that when Cranbourne Fire Station first responded at 8.11am, it was initially a fence fire, but it was quickly upgraded to a structure fire with reports of four garages on fire. “By the time the fire trucks arrived on the scene at 8.21am, some 10 minutes after response, the fire had destroyed eight garages, a number of cars, one townhouse and damaged seven others,” he said. “I apologised to the residents for the stress and anxiety they went through and apologised that our response time was not satisfactory. “That 10 minutes is unacceptable by both FRV and CFA standards.” FRV’s Service Delivery Standards across all of Victoria are to respond to structure fires within 7 minutes and 42 seconds. Mr Baker pointed out the irony was the burning site was just opposite the proposed Clyde North Fire Station, which was first identified in 2009. “It’s been on the card for at least 15 years,” he said. FRV announced the site for Clyde North’s fire station nearly three years ago, which would be situated on the corner of Matterhorn Drive and Thompson Road. It was estimated that work was expected to begin in 2021 and finish in 2023. The construction has not commenced. Star News talked to United Firefighters Union delegate for Cranbourne Fire Station
The view along Lobos Lane Clyde North showing the damage to multiple garages. 392643 Sam Watterson in early February this year, who was frustrated at the failure to deliver the promised fire station as it posed operational difficulties to Cranbourne Fire Station. A spokesperson for FRV commented in February that planning for the Clyde North Fire Station was underway. Mr Baker explained that an unsuppressed fire would just continue to spread until it ran out of fuel.
Thinking of
Selling?
“A rapid response time is critical to cut off that fire before it extends to other buildings,” he said. “Had an FRV crew been across the road, and responded within a minute, (I have) no doubt in 25 years of professional firefighting that it would have been restricted to maybe a couple of garages. “That’s why we are calling on Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes to fund this
Picture: GARY SISSONS Clyde North Fire Station so the residents of Clyde North can have the response time befitting of the risk in the area.” He said that both CFA and FRV firefighters were working hard to lobby the State Government to provide the funding. FRV 2022-23 Annual Report shows that more than $7 million was allocated to Clyde North, but Mr Baker said the tender was put out some time ago. Continued page 8
With Finning's NO SALE – NO CHARGE & SMART SALE platform YOU can't lose.
Visit our website
Here's your sign!
Call us any time (24hrs) and find out more NOW!
finning.com.au
T 5996 1200 enquire@finning.com.au 12662182-AA03-24