- 40 new firefighters join the Career Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS)
- Largest number of graduates from a firefighter school
- Cook Government invests $23 million for extra firefighters to protect communities
As part of the Cook Government's biggest boost to Western Australia's frontline emergency services in more than 50 years, 40 new firefighters have graduated.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the graduates from Trainee Firefighter School 92 would be stationed around the State and enhance WA's incident response.
The new firefighters graduated from a pool of more than 1000 applicants and completed their training under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services' (DFES) restructured 15-week course, which included intensive practical activities and complex theoretical work.
The trainees were divided into four squads with the class producing the largest number of graduates delivered by a single WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy school.
The new firefighters come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Among the latest additions to the Career Fire and Rescue Service there are former firefighters from the United Kingdom and Queensland, an ex-Navy seaman, a former Army rifleman, police officers, a diesel mechanic and a plumber.
The new training model supports the Cook Government's $23 million commitment to provide an extra 60 firefighters to protect WA communities. A total of 20 will come from the two schools in this financial year with 20 planned for each of the next two financial years.
In this term, the State Government has pledged an extra 132 career firefighters - the biggest boost to WA's frontline emergency services operations in more than 50 years.
For more information on a firefighting career visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/careers-and-volunteering
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"With a challenging bushfire season ahead, the Cook Government is focused on community safety and supporting our emergency services to better protect Western Australians.
"Our $23 million investment for an extra 60 career firefighters is a major boost for the emergency services front line. Those additional firefighters are now starting to flow through the system and out into the regions and local communities.
"On behalf of the Cook Government and all Western Australians, I congratulate and welcome our new 40 firefighters as they are about to embark on their vital new roles in protecting our State.
"The new training model that has been introduced by DFES allows the delivery of additional firefighters through subsequent schools as our Government funds the biggest boost of WA emergency services operations in more than 50 years."
As stated by Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"Western Australians can be confident our latest career firefighters have been trained to the highest standards and are ready to help protect communities from the wide range of hazards across our vast State.
"Our emergency services personnel face new challenges, often presented by changing climates and landscapes, and the latest graduates have been trained in far more than just fighting fires.
"They also have to be skilled in responding to road crashes, industrial rescues and HAZMAT operations among other emergencies.
"The State Government's commitment to boosting our frontline operations is welcomed as it strengthens our emergency services personnel striving to keep Western Australians safe.
