Left: The Hallam CFA is facing a $15,000 repair bill after a car drive through its entrance. From left: Tony Jakobovic of the CFA building and property department, fire officer Greg Chapman, Ian McCleary and Frank Ennio.Fire officers at Hallam CFA received a surprise on Thursday shortly after 6am.By Rebecca Fraser
THE Hallam Country Fire Authority was on the scene in record time last Thursday when a car ploughed into the brigade’s station.
Fire officer Greg Chapman said he heard a thump, squeal and “almighty bang” about 6.15am and walked out to find a white Commodore parked in the station’s foyer.
Mr Chapman said two cars collided at the intersection of Young Drive and Belgrave-Hallam Road, causing a male driver’s car to career over into the station’s entrance.
He said both police and ambulance were called, with the driver, from Endeavour Hills, taken to Dandenong Hospital with non-serious injuries and treated for shock.
The driver of the other car, a young woman from Hallam, was shaken but not injured.
Mr Chapman said the building suffered some major structural damage during the collision with a support column completely taken out.
Crews from the Dandenong CFA attended, used shoring equipment to secure the front entrance to the building.
The repair bill is estimated to reach $15,000.
“To us it was another accident but this time we were involved as well,” Mr Chapman said.
Engineers inspected the two-year-old building following the incident to make sure the area was safe before repairs could start.
Endeavour Hills Police attended the scene and said the woman driver was issued an on-the-spot fine for failing to give way.
