Brigade raises alarm for more volunteers

CORIO Fire Brigade members are calling on the community for help to bolster its ranks and continue its vital role protecting local families.

The north Geelong CFA branch will host an information session today (April 28), for interested recruits to find out more about the brigade, its responsibility in the community and the commitment entailed in becoming a member.

Corio CFA currently has 13 operational firefighters on its roster, as part of a total of 35 registered volunteers – well short of the 20 brigade leaders say is the ideal number to best serve the north Geelong community.

While several more prospective firies are in training to bolster the complement, pandemic restrictions have slowed down the coaching process and created a backlog that leaves Corio short on numbers.

“In 2020 we couldn’t do any recruitment at all. In 2021 we took in a reasonable sized intake but some of them are still completing their training, because COVID has had different impacts on different people living in different areas,” Brigade lieutenant Jordan Grossman said.

“COVID definitely did (affect us), not as much from a recruit perspective but from a trainer perspective.

“Some people are in more vulnerable demographics and they usually help out with a lot of things, but they’ve had to decline earlier on in the pandemic because of the risk they’ll get COVID and end up in hospital.”

With rules eased across the state, the local brigade is ramping up efforts to recruit more volunteers to pull on the fire suit.

Mr Grossman said Thursday evening was an opportunity for anyone who had considered volunteering to put their hand up.

“Just come along and find out what it’s all about,” he said.

“It’s a very quick, informal night. If people are tossing it up then I’d encourage them to come along and see what it’s about, ask the questions and work out what they want to get out of it and go from there.

“It’s for the community, that’s why we do this work.

“We want to be there for people when they need us most. That’s what keeps us coming back and why we need more people coming through.”

The event starts at 7pm, at Corio fire station in Birdwood Avenue, Norlane. See the brigade’s Facebook for more information.