By Callum Ludwig
Hillcrest CFA in Woori Yallock has completed the installation of a containment fill station(CFS), a machine that compresses the air for breathing apparatus(BA) used by firefighters.
Breathing apparatus use is an important part of brigade training and firefighting, and the new machine will help support the Hillcrest brigade and neighbouring brigades to have more efficient access to refills.
Hillcrest CFA Captain Colin Dickson said previously brigades in the area had to contact Bayswater’s brigade in order to fill up.
“Our nearest support was having to get the Bayswater’s Mobile Bay filling unit to come up to see us or to send someone down to get ours filled up,” he said
“Since we had it installed and operating in late-December 2021, we’ve filled 62 cylinders from ours, to Healesville’s, Lilydale’s and Yellingbo’s.”
Hillcrest has trained 20 of their brigade members on how to operate the machine, and has reached out to neighbouring brigades to train their members too.
Mr Dickson said it is also an inclusive opportunity for non-operative members of the brigade.
“It’s a nice inclusive thing for somebody who might have been responsible for cutting the grass at the station who can now get called upon and really feel part of the firefighting process,” he said.
“Being able to get more members involved will be a real benefit for the entire Yarra Valley group of brigades.”
The CFS can fill up to three cylinders at a time to an incredible 300 Bar in 12 minutes, or 25 Bar a minute. A Bar is about 14 times one PSI (pound per square inch), the measurement used for the amount of air in car tires. This means breathing apparatus cylinders can be filled up quickly and efficiently so stocks of air are always available.
Mr Dickson said the machine will help make training and operation at Hillcrest much more efficient, particularly as there will be no downtime in waiting to fill up cylinders.
“Each person who’s breathing apparatus qualified has an obligation to go through a cylinder once every six months just to keep our skills up to date as a minimum. We will able to keep tour skills up to date in a more convenient manner,” he said.
“On the other hand, it also means that after we’ve been to a fire, where we’ve used BA, we’re actually now able to have brigades get themselves back to full operational status very quickly.”
The project to install the machine cost about $80,000 raised over the years since the brigade moved into Hillcrest in 2013. Their next plans are to raise funds for a mobile BA support vehicle, which could take out up to 24 cylinders to the scene of a fire, allowing firefighters up to 12 hours of air ready to go.
