STATE fire service head honchos made a tour of regional stations last week, including a tour of the Waikerie station by several local volunteer fire fighters who reinforced the dryness of the regions, despite recent downpours.
SA Country Fire Service (CFS) chief officer Mark Jones made his first visit to Murray Mallee CFS stations last week, and was given a tour through the Waikerie station by several local officers, accompanied by regional commander Ray Jackson and CFS Volunteers Association vice president David Linder.
Mr Jones took the post in 2019, and has 35 years’ of firefighting experience in various UK fire and rescue services.
“The biggest change I’ve had to adjust to has been the massive swathes of land in SA,” he said during the tour.
“Driving through the Mallee and Riverland today, speaking to farmers and other fire officers has really driven home what we’re up against out here.
“I wanted to get out here earlier this year, but obviously (COVID-19) got in the way of a lot of plans.
“It’s excellent to touch base with our officers and volunteers out here.”
Waikerie CFS captain Shaun Arnold said the service area had been “quiet” in terms of emergencies lately, but the volunteer fire-fighters were “always prepared” for the worst.
“While we’ve had an unusually quiet winter – in terms of emergency call-outs – fire danger season is almost here and we need to keep vigilant,” he said.
“Any farmers needing to conduct those last burn-offs have to do so in the next fortnight. Despite the downpours we’ve been getting, it’s still very dry across the region and we don’t want to risk anything.”
Fire danger season takes hold across the Murraylands from November 15.