Theft sours CFA spirit

By Kath Gannaway
THE theft of equipment from Warburton fire station and a volunteer’s car has left brigade members disillusioned.
While the brigade was fighting a fire in Wesburn in the early hours of Saturday 31 May thieves stole three helmets from the open fire station, and a stereo from a firefighter’s car.
Captain Maurie Dell said members noticed helmets and turnout gear outside the station when they returned.
“Then they discovered one of our members’ cars had been broken into and the stereo had been ripped out of the dash,” he said.
The thieves broke the locks and dinted the car as well as destroying a collection of CDs.
One of three helmets stolen was found on the La La Falls track by a bushwalker but two special structure fire helmets are still missing.
“They are part of vital equipment we use to assist anybody and everybody who find themselves in need of our help so this sort of thing is pretty demoralising,” Mr Dell said.
Some of the firefighters had been in bed for just an hour or two after attending the Knights of the Round Table CFA fundraising event on the Friday night when they were called out at 1am to attend the fire.
Mr Dell said some members didn’t get back to the station until 5am.
“We’re nonplussed as to why anyone would want to do this,” he said.
“Apart from the inconvenience and damage to a volunteer’s car it’s quite demoralising. We are happy to help out anybody – we don’t discriminate – and it’s upset quite a few of our members that someone has gone so low as to do this when we’re out there in the middle of the night helping somebody out.”
Mr Dell asked for anyone who has information about the theft, or knows where the missing helmets are, to phone Warburton Police on 5966 2006. Alternatively the helmets could be left at the station.