Ballan takes Fiskville Cup for second year running

BALLAN Fire Brigade has again taken top honours in this year’s Fiskville Cup, the pre-fire season competition aimed at helping brigades sharpen their skills as summer approaches.

Despite competition from the second largest race that stops a nation, the Bathurst 1000, six teams from the nine brigades that comprise the Ballan group (including one from Bacchus Marsh, which is outside the group) contested the annual event on Sunday 13 October.

The teams gathered in the Wallace brigade’s area of operations, contesting seven events.

They were required to respond to predetermined pager messages directing them to ‘incidents’ where they had to evaluate the scene and use their skills and knowledge to complete a task.

Those included an entrapment drill, a motor vehicle accident, a structure fire, drafting, and grass and scrub fires during a fire danger period (involving the police). Members of the Gordon police were on hand to oversee activities.

There was also a demonstration of electric vehicle safety performed by CFA western region learning and development officer Carl Costin, who shared information about the hazards associated with electric vehicle fires.

Mr Costin also emphasised the importance of using personal protective equipment and personal protective clothing.

The overall winner, Ballan, took top honours for the second year in succession. The brigade’s Matt Thorne added to the trophy cabinet by winning the Robert Molesworth Crew Leader Award.

The Best Presented Truck accolade went to the crew from Bacchus Marsh.

The Ballan group of brigades is made up of the Blackwood, Greendale, Ballan, Mt Wallace, Morrisons, Gordon, Mt Egerton, Millbrook and Wallace fire brigades.

The Fiskville Cup notched up its 50th anniversary last year.