Date Time
Australia Day honours for CFA members
Country Fire Authority volunteers are among those who have been awarded the highest honour for a member of any Australian fire service.
The Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) recognises distinguished service paid or volunteer members, with this year’s recipients including four volunteers who have been honoured for their service to CFA.
Ross Coyle – Wodonga West Fire Brigade
Ian Hay – Gisborne Fire Brigade
Mark Roberts – Cobden Fire Brigade
Leighton Wraith – Dunkeld Fire Brigade
After joining CFA as a volunteer in 1985, Ross Coyle has held significant leadership roles during numerous campaign fires in North East Victoria, as well as many smaller fires in the area.
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Three teens were pulled from the water near Apollo Bay, and a beach south-east of Melbourne was evacuated after a shark sighting, but an expected cool change swept through earlier than planned, providing relief for the sweltering city.
Melbourneâs temperature dropped from 39.2 to the mid-20s just after noon on Monday, after a fast-moving cool change arrived in metro areas earlier than expected.
But fears remain that extreme heat and gusty winds in the stateâs north may pose a fire risk throughout the summer after a small grass fire briefly burnt out of control near Shepparton.
Liam, 12, Indy, 8, and Blaze, 13, cool off at Lysterfield Lake on Monday
Volunteer firefighters from Pootilla, near Ballarat, devastated by theft of crucial equipment
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WedWednesday 20
JanJanuary 2021 at 6:42am
The Glen Park Fire Brigade at Pootilla, near Ballarat, is made up of more than 20 volunteers.
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Members of a volunteer fire crew from Ballarat s outskirts are devastated and concerned about their capacity to respond to fires after thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen earlier this week.
Key points:
The Glen Park Fire Brigade is entirely run by volunteers
The brigade is concerned the theft will affect its ability to respond to emergencies
The Glen Park Fire Brigade at Pootilla, an entirely volunteer-based Country Fire Authority (CFA) crew, had about $5,000 worth of equipment taken from its headquarters, including two chainsaws and a fridge that had been acquired through a community fundraiser to enable firefighters to access cool water while on the job.
A grass fire burning in Victoria s north has spread across more than 200 hectares and destroyed two sheds storing hay and machinery.
A Watch and Act advice message was issued for the towns of Graytown and Moormbool West near Heathcote, east of Bendigo this afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the paddock fire in Graytown just before 12pm.
Firefighters have worked through the afternoon to stop a fast moving grassfire burning through properties.(Nine)
A fire advice message has been issued for towns in northern Victoria.(Supplied)
The fire has crossed Mt Camel-Graytown Road in Moormbool West.
At least 11 CFA vehicles were called to the scene, with more than a dozen more called for assistance.