SA Country Fire Service

Media release

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CFS is more than a Bushfire Service

1/11/2012

Bushfire Action Week (BAW) is now in full swing with various activities taking place to encourage South Australians to think about their responsibilities and develop a Bushfire Survival Plan to prepare for the Fire Danger Season.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) is marking the halfway point of BAW today to remind everyone of the diversity of vocation and skills that its volunteers bring to the organisation.

CFS Chief Officer Greg Nettleton said although prevention and mitigation is an important part of CFS business it is not its most dominant function.

"The CFS is more than a bushfire service and in fact in the last financial year we responded to more road crash rescue incidents than we did bushfires," Mr Nettleton said.

"We also attend HAZMAT or hazardous materials incidents, structure fires such as houses and commercial buildings, and offer professional training to CFS staff and volunteers who provide community and education support to prevent fires."

The CFS also conducts assessments of residential buildings in high bushfire risk areas, generates public safety warnings during bushfires, supports other emergency services and actively encourages young people to become involved through its cadet and youth programs.

"Our organisation relies on the dedication and commitment of more than 13,500 professionally trained volunteers which includes 10,200 firefighters and just over 900 cadets," Mr Nettleton said.

"These are people who do not get paid to attend emergency incidents or training but who are prepared to offer their time to gain personal satisfaction as their reward by helping their community."

The CFS manages and operates 414 fire stations and group control centres with a fleet of 935 vehicles that include fire trucks, bulk water carriers and command vehicles.

For more information about BAW activities or joining the CFS as a volunteer or a cadet and how to become involved with a local Brigade, visit the CFS website www.cfs.sa.gov.au and click on the "Join Us" tab on the Home page.

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Media information
For media enquiries call the CFS Media Line on 08 8115 3531.

Government of South Australia