No fires, but hot

By Lia Bichel
FIREFIGHTERS from Hallam and Narre Warren were in hot competition on the weekend, and not a single fire was in sight.
The volunteers joined Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades across eastern Victoria at the 79th Annual Eastern District Fire Brigades’ Association competition in Maffra.
They competed in a number of events, including ladder and hydrant races, hose and reel events and marshal events that simulated firefighting operations.
Hallam Fire Brigade running coach Graham Lovett said the team did not do as well as they hoped, but had a lot of fun and learned where they need improvement.
“We had 10 members of the brigade that went, plus their partners and kids for support,” Mr Lovett said.
“We didn’t do as well as we would have liked, but we now know we need a lot more training.”
The brigade trains on Thursday nights at Doveton.
They have been competing in the competition since the 1960s.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan, who officially opened the competition, said the competitions were a great opportunity for local CFA brigades to sharpen their skills and improve teamwork in a non-emergency setting.
“Since Victoria’s first fire brigade championships were held in Bendigo in 1873, they have become an important date on the CFA calendar,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan said while much of the state’s focus had been on flood events, bushfire-prone communities were being urged to prepare themselves for the threat of grass and bushfires.
“The Coalition Government recently launched the FireReady Roadshow, which has been visiting high fire-risk communities to remind them of the importance of bushfire planning. We live in one of the most fire-prone regions in the world and every Victorian must know three words can mean the difference between life and death: Prepare, Act, Survive.”
Other brigades who competed in the 79th annual Eastern District Fire Brigade Association competition were Bairnsdale, Belgrave, Bunyip, Dandenong, Drouin, Frankston, Hallam, Knox Group, Kooweerup, Lakes Entrance, Maffra, Maryvale, Melton, Moe, Mornington, Morwell, Narre Warren, Pakenham, Patterson River, Sale, Trafalgar, Traralgon and Warragul.