Beaufort Fire Brigade was officially handed the keys to their new station and Heavy Tanker today in an event that celebrated the past and present.
The Volunteer Brigade movement has been around in Victoria for more than 170 years, but on April 2, CFA will celebrate its 80th anniversary since it was formed following the findings of the 1939 Black Friday disaster.
Beaufort Captain Tony Neville said the brigade, in its 151 year, were thrilled to be operating out the new state of the art station and using the new Heavy Tanker.
"Everything flows better," Tony said.
"All our trucks are all on the one bay, we used to have separate sheds and had to move cars around to get to equipment.
"I think it may have also helped with recruitment with five new volunteers waiting to do their General Fire Fighting training."
The new station includes essential amenities such as a motor room with three drive-through bays, offices, workshops, operational areas, meeting rooms, change rooms for both male and female volunteers, as well as unisex ambulant facilities. Externally the station provides a car park, and a six-bay storage shed.
To mark the occasion a Willy's Truck and running cart were on display to show how far CFA has evolved in the last 80 years.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said there was no better place to mark CFA's 80th anniversary than with one of the oldest brigades in Victoria.
"This brigade has been there since CFA's inception and it is just wonderful to be celebrating here surrounded by the history of this long running brigade," Jason said.
"This new facility marks the beginning of a new part of this brigade's history and one that will only improve the service CFA provides for their local areas."
Beaufort Fire Brigade respond to more than 100 call outs every year, attending bushfires, structural fires, motor vehicle accidents and heavy vehicle incidents, as well as supporting emergency response efforts of surrounding brigades.
