Colac Fire Brigade in Colac, Victoria | Community organisation

Colac Fire Brigade

Locality: Colac, Victoria

Phone: +61 429 961 992

Address: 34 Rae Street 3250 Colac, VIC, Australia

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• Community organisation
• Government organisation
• Fire station

25.01.2022 Home again?! Theres no better time to start planning and practising your home fire escape plan. There are many fire hazards that may exist throughout the home,... and its important you know what to do if a fire breaks out. Families who are well-prepared are more likely to escape their homes safely and without panic.

25.01.2022 When using your fireplace in Winter, its important that you follow these home fire safety tips: Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire. Keep i...tems that can burn, such as clothes horses, at least 1m away from the heat source. Extinguish open fires before leaving home or going to sleep. Children must be supervised near open fires. Maintain a safe distance between children and heating. Ensure ashes are cold before discarding. Only burn dry, clean wood. See more

24.01.2022 Each year, ex-CFA jackets help keep those in need warm throughout winter The woollen jackets are donated by members and distributed by charities, and help to provide a bit of comfort for those doing it tough Avalon Centre

24.01.2022 This morning at approx 11am we were called to a Melbourne bound vline passenger train leaking oil at the Colac train station. Upon investigation it was soon discovered that a bolt from the main drive engine oil filter housing had sheared off somewhere between Camperdown and Colac and that was the source of the leak. A spare locomotive was sent from Geelong to tow the train for repairs and passengers continued their journey on buses. Well done to the crew involved with a bit of an unusual job.

23.01.2022 September 11 2001 NEVER FORGET. We will never forget the lives that were lost by both the victims and the heroes that ran into the buildings engulfed in flames that day. 19 years ago tonight, we will remember them.

23.01.2022 Trying to get your last minute laundry dry during the cooler months might mean bringing out the heater. If flammable materials like clothes are left too close, they may ignite! Make sure your clothes are left to dry at least one metre from heaters.

23.01.2022 Appreciate the kind words! "Fire Safe Kids" is a program aimed at both Early Childhood Education and Primary Education in teaching fire safety. Our dedicated volunteers are here to help out! Even through these tough times, a Zoom session had been set up to ensure the children could still be involved while staying safe at home.

23.01.2022 Hands up who doesnt want to go outside to hang their washing in this cold weather Remember if you are drying your laundry inside, to always keep it at least 1 metre from the heater.

22.01.2022 Update to todays Severe Weather Warning Make sure you tie down any loose objects that may get caught up in the strong winds. Also if you have burnt off any materials over the past few days, endure it has been properly extinguished.

22.01.2022 At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, we pause for 1 minute to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our country. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning ... We will remember them." LEST WE FORGET

22.01.2022 Today marks the start of Mens Health Week, an annual event to encourage Australian men to come together and openly discuss health issues, needs and outcomes. B...oth on and off the fire ground, good health is absolutely vital, and its important to take stock of your health and think about where youre at. Heres five easy actions you can do each day to help boost your wellbeing

22.01.2022 Thanks to this wet wintery weather, our homes are filling up with clothes racks drying our clean washing. Please ensure they are at least 1 meter away from any heat source.

21.01.2022 A very informative video put together from last Summers Bushfire Season in Gippsland. Messages in this video relate to all of us statewide, including us all in the Otway Region. Now is the time to prepare!... Forest Fire Management Victoria Victoria State Emergency Service CFA (Country Fire Authority) Vic Emergency

21.01.2022 Great work Caitlin

19.01.2022 Busy 24 hour period with the brigade responding to 5 call outs. Last night saw 2 jobs in quick succession, one of which was a wash-away of fluid left on the road as a result of a vehicle driving over the top of a roundabout. This was then followed by an alarm which was later discovered to be a false alarm at Bulla's Murray Street Plant. Today saw us respond to another 3 jobs, 2 of which were for the smell of gas within the vicinity of Dennis Street (from roughly Gellibrand S...treet through to Queen Street). Upon investigating both smells of gas, it was discovered that there was in fact no gas detected. Contractors are currently in the process of repairing/replacing gas lines in the area. As a part of the process they are flushing the lines with water, which had bonded with the odourant (the substance used to give gas a scent), giving off a smell of gas. Larpent, Cororooke and Winchelsea supported us over the two incidents. Whilst our Pumper was wrapping up at the second gas incident, we were paged to a suspected mulch pile smouldering at Joiner Reserve, Elliminyt. It was discovered that the mulch had recently been mulched, giving off what appeared to be smoke, but turned out it was just steam. Thanks to Larpent Cororooke, Winchelsea and Barongarook West for your support! Pictured - Scene of the wash-away CFA (Country Fire Authority) Winchelsea Fire Brigade Cororooke Fire Brigade

18.01.2022 Did you know that only 1 in 10 Victorian households have smoke alarms in recommended locations? In the last 10 years, 22 people across regional Victoria have di...ed due to fires in their bedrooms. Install interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom and living area in your home. It could save your life.

18.01.2022 Most of house fires could of been prevented, now is the time to ensure your home and family are fire safe.

17.01.2022 Just how hot does a car get during a fire? Too hot is the short answer. And getting stuck inside is the worst-case scenario when you've left it too late to leav...e. Craig Reucassel teamed up with Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA to show just how dangerous it can be. #BigWeather #YourPlanetAU #bushfireplanning #ReadyTogether

17.01.2022 This evening our brigade responded to a washing machine fire in one of the local Laundromats. Upon arrival, crews were met with smoke billowing out the open front door. Crews manager to contain the fire to the machine with smoke/water damage throughout the rest of the building. With limited crews and support from both Cororooke and Larpent Brigades, we ended up with a great result.

16.01.2022 As a brigade, we are doing our bit to keep both us and the community safe. This video was put together earlier this year when COVID-19 first hit Victoria. Not much has changed from then till now, except masks being mandatory from midnight tonight in public places (except for those with an exemption). We will be ensuring our crews have medical masks and nitrile gloves on when turning out and will maintain social distancing where possible. ... Please do your bit by wearing a mask, social distance and wash your hand frequently, so we can all get back to a "COVID normal" as quickly as possible. Lets Keep Colac Safe! CFA (Country Fire Authority) Colac Herald Mixx1063 Colac Otway Shire Council

16.01.2022 Last financial year was one of the busiest we have had on record, so we thought we would show you just a snippet of the jobs we attended. Enjoy! CFA (Country Fire Authority)

16.01.2022 Today is the first day of winter and its important that everyone is responsible for their own home fire safety during the cooler months. Heres the preventative measures you can take to keep your household safe.

14.01.2022 Silence is the last thing you want to hear in the event of a fire. Install smoke alarms in all bedrooms, living area and hallways and ensure they are interconnected so all alarms will sound regardless of where a fire starts.

14.01.2022 It was our turn to return the favour this morning after the brigade was paged to support Winchelsea Fire Brigade. Our Pumper was requested to support with a large structure fire in Gosney Street, Winchelsea. Once our crew arrived on scene, they were swiftly put into action, pulling low voltage fuses and donning breathing apparatus to assist with removing pieces of debris from one of the structures. Lieutenant Kelvin Blake was put in charge of one of the sectors also. ... Great effort by all involved! CFA (Country Fire Authority) Vic Emergency Fire Rescue Victoria CFA Chief Officer

13.01.2022 This afternoon our brigade, along with Larpent, Cororooke and Birregurra Brigades, were paged to an escaped burn-off which had ended up catching a small garden shed alight. Quick action by neighbours and with crews arriving promptly saw minimal damage to the garden shed. The bamboo garden and fence come off a little worse for wear. Although the occupants registered the burn-off, it is important to know that it is recommended that you dont ignite burn-offs when the wind exc...eeds 10km/hr. Keeping watch of your burn-off ensures that in the event something like this happens, it can be extinguished quickly. A great save and well done to all involved. CFA (Country Fire Authority)

13.01.2022 Santa is out and about with his helpers If you hear the jingles and bells around town follow and find him at the following locations * 4:00pm Barongarook Hall * 4:20pm Eastern Reserve Colac ... * 4:30pm Pirate Park - South Colac * 4:50pm Western Reserve Colac * 5:00pm Wyuna Estate - Scanlan Drive * 5:10pm Memorial Square MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

11.01.2022 Close to half of all Victorians living in areas at high risk of bushfire could be risking their lives by opting to ‘wait and see’ rather than ‘leave early’ on h...igh-risk fire days, a CFA survey has revealed. More than 600 people in some of Victoria’s highest risk fire locations were surveyed, and the results come despite the state suffering its worst fire season in a decade last year. The latest seasonal outlook predicts a lower risk of long-running bushfires than last year, when 1.5 million hectares of Victoria burned, but grassfires remain a high risk across the state. The respondents to CFA’s 2020 Bushfire Community Survey, undertaken after each bushfire season since 200910, who fell into the ‘wait and see’ category included: - A quarter (26%) said they would do as much as possible to protect their property but leave if they felt threatened by the fire - 12 per cent said they would wait to see what the fire was like before deciding whether to stay or leave - 1 in 10 said they would wait for police, fire or emergency services to tell them what to do on the day Only eight per cent said they planned to leave the area on days of high-risk fire danger. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned those who waited too long to leave, or weren’t adequately prepared to defend their property, could be risking their lives and those of firefighters. Leaving early is the safest option to protect yourself and your family and it means leaving the area before a fire starts not when you can see flames or smell smoke, he said. Leaving early means leaving the night before, or early in the morning of, a high-risk fire day. It means it’s easier to make good, rational decisions and avoid panic, becoming trapped and risking serious injury or death. Waiting to leave means a drive that normally takes a few minutes could take hours, or you may not be able to get out at all. CO Heffernan said that on hot, dry and windy days, fires can start and spread quickly. He urged Victorians to learn what the Fire Danger Ratings mean and use them as triggers to take action to keep themselves and loved ones safe. Households will need different triggers depending on their circumstances, such as whether their property is located near bushland and whether escape routes are limited. However, CFA recommends people in high-risk bushfire settings should leave early on days of Fire Danger ratings of Severe, Extreme or Code Red. On Code Red days, leaving early is the only safe option. Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fires in those conditions. Talk to your household, family or neighbours about your bushfire survival plan and check Fire Danger Ratings daily so you know when to leave. Fire safety is a shared responsibility and on high fire risk days you cannot expect a fire truck at every house. It's your responsibility to make the best possible decision for your family based on the current Fire Danger Ratings and official warnings for your area. To check the Fire Danger Rating visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au, check the VicEmergency app or phone the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226. Download the VicEmergency app now so you know how it works well before you need to use it. For example, you can set up tailored watch zones for the area where you live, go on holiday or to monitor what is happening where friends and family are located. Visit the CFA website to: - Learn more about Fire Danger Ratings and Decide which rating is your trigger to leave depending on your location and circumstances. - Make a Bushfire Survival Plan or Register for a Fire Safety Essentials online session. - Check Fire Danger Ratings daily. More than 600 people in some of Victoria’s highest risk fire locations were surveyed, and the results come despite the state suffering its worst fire season in a decade last year.

11.01.2022 The current COVID-19 outbreak is effecting many of us in the Colac region including us here at the Colac Fire Brigade. Be rest assured that Colac Fire Brigade have been putting their own measures (as per CFA guidelines) in place. Our members are temperature checked, required to wear masks and medical gloves prior to even getting into our trucks, to ensure ourselves and those who need us in an emergency are safe. We are still in a position to respond even though a number of ou...r members have been asked to isolate and will remain available as a brigade. Please play your part in Keeping Colac Safe by wearing a mask while out in our community. CFA (Country Fire Authority) Colac Otway Shire Council

11.01.2022 Landlords and agents - its up to you to have gas heaters serviced in rental properties, at least once every two years. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you cant ...see or smell. When it spills from your gas heater, it can make you very sick or even kill you and your family . Any gas heater can spill CO including old and new heaters, central heating units, space heaters, wall furnaces and decorative log fires. To avoid the risk, we recommend that all gas heaters are serviced at least every two years by a qualified gasfitter. A qualified gasfitter will inspect your heater and check its installation, including testing for CO leakage. They are still working through restrictions.

11.01.2022 Busy week for The brigade This week has seen the brigade respond to 6 call outs of which 2 were significant Structure fires. Early this week we were paged to a House Fire which was believed to have started from a dropped cigarette on to a bed. The House was extensively damaged in the fire.... During the week has seen us called out to a car accident, grassfire, explosion and false alarm. 2 of which were support calls that we were called off en route to. Following those jobs, last night saw us respond to a kitchen fire at Union Club Hotel Colac. It was believed to have been started by spontaneous combustion of cleaning cloths used in the kitchen. A great job done by some of the employees at the hotel, who used multiple extinguishers to try and suppress the fire until we arrived. The fire saw the kitchen damaged significantly, resulting in the hotel having to close their kitchen for the time being. Fantastic effort by our members, ensuring our community and beyond are kept safe! CFA (Country Fire Authority) CFA Chief Officer

10.01.2022 Nows the time, do the right thing. A great video put together by our wonderful community! Lets all do our part, Keep Colac Safe.

10.01.2022 Staying Apart Keeps Us Together. Thank You Colac and all of Victoria. Theres a lot to be proud of. But theres still a way to go. If youve been working from home you must keep working from home. ... At least until the end of June. Keep using your common sense. And keep your distance. Its up to all of us to make this work. See more

10.01.2022 When a fire occurs in your home, know your plan. Dont re-enter the home once youve evacuated and always call triple zero in an emergency.

10.01.2022 Colac residents can expect to see defence force personnel in the city in coming days, as backup arrives to help with the outbreak. Meanwhile, the health depart...ment has set up a local Incident Control Centre to manage COVID-19 in Colac, leading contact tracing, case management and public information. Authorities indicated anybody with even mild symptoms should immediately attend testing.

10.01.2022 Do you or someone you love use electric blankets? Last Monday 29th June, a 74 year old lady is lucky to still be alive. Fortunately rescued just in time by a ...neighbour when he heard the screams and is recovering in hospital. The house albeit destroyed and uninsured can be replaced. Lives Can Not Be! PLEASE follow these tips and check your electric blanket for faults TODAY. At the first sign of wear, replace the blanket or have it checked by a qualified electrician Keep the blanket flat on the bed and ensure controls and cords are not twisted or caught between the bed and mattress Dont place heavy objects on the bed while the blanket is on. Never sleep with your blanket on, even on low. Dont leave your blanket on during the day

09.01.2022 Almost 20% of burns admissions to The Alfred are caused by people throwing petrol or other accelerants on open fires. We are urging all Victorians to stay safe this weekend if you are around an open fire. We really dont want to come to your house (no offence)

09.01.2022 Do you like having candles around while youre working from home? Make sure you never leave candles unattended, and always ensure theyre fully extinguished when you wrap up for the day

09.01.2022 Great story in the spring edition of CFA Brigade on the Willsher family the story is focusing on the journey of Fire Fighter Caitlin Willsher from a junior to a senior member(developing the next generation). Great work Caitlin the brigade is very proud of your commitment and dedication.

09.01.2022 Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful Dads that make up our brigade. Thank you all for your endless dedication and for giving up that precious time with your families in order to protect our community.

08.01.2022 Barongarook and Colac Fire Brigades will be conducting a Santa Run on Friday 18th of December. Check out the details below in the event.

08.01.2022 No need to stockpile! Let us repeat what we said back on March 20th. CFA South West has an important community safety announcement for everyone. A message also shared by Police. Here is a full list of items you should be panic buying.

07.01.2022 Have you cleaned your chimney or flue lately? It was a close call for this Echuca resident who noticed a fire in their chimney yesterday and called 000, and cre...ws from Echuca Fire Brigade were able to quickly extinguish the blaze If youre lighting up your fireplace this weekend, ensure your check your chimney. Use a torch to check for creosote build-up or obstructions like bird nests. Have your chimney professionally cleaned annually. Echuca Fire Brigade

06.01.2022 From all of us at the Colac Fire Brigade, we wish you a Merry Christmas! We hope that its a safe one and Santa has visited!

04.01.2022 As of 1am tomorrow, Monday 14th December, the Fire Danger Period will commence in the Colac Otway Shire. Head over to https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/can to find out what you can and cant't do during the fire danger period.

04.01.2022 Winter is the peak time for heater fires, with people spending more time indoors it is more important than ever to ensure youre safely heating your household. Always turn your heater off before going to bed or leaving the house.

04.01.2022 Have you driven past the Colac Fire Brigade today check out their pinked up truck

04.01.2022 Around 4am this morning the brigade was paged to support Barongarook Brigade with a Dairy Shed fire. Both Colac Pumper and FCV responded initially. Upon arriving on scene, crews were met with not just a shed on fire, but a large stack of straw hay also. Call of make Tankers 10 was made, with our Tanker also responding to support with carting water.... Some 5 hours later with the help of an Excavator, the fire was deemed safe. Thanks must go out to Winchelsea Fire Brigade for stepping up to Colac in the early hours to ensure our town was kept safe! Thanks also to FRV Station 62 who reponded their BA Van to refill some cylinders. CFA (Country Fire Authority) Vic Emergency Clearwater Logging & Transport CFA Chief Officer

02.01.2022 Its been quite a busy day for our brigade, which all started off at 3am this morning. We were paged to support Beeac for the unfortunate house fire which claimed an elderly mans life. Both our Pumper and Pumper Tanker responded, with our Pumper remaining on scene until 5:30pm this evening. You may have seen a strange looking truck getting around town throughout the day. Fire Rescue Victoria Pumper 64 from Belmont was in town, supporting our community. This was while our Pump...er remained at Beeac, which was manned by members from Torquay Fire Brigade, to allow our members to rest and remain in our local area. Pumper 64 was put in to action this afternoon when the brigade was paged to a Motor Vehicle Accident. Upon Colac FCV and Pumper 64s arrival on scene, it was discovered a vehicle had ended up down the embankment, parallel to Queens Avenue. No one was trapped and a single occupant of the vehicle was walked to a nearby ambulance and transported to hospital. Members then assisted this evening to restow and clean our Pumper, once it arrived back in station. Great effort by all involved! CFA (Country Fire Authority) SES Colac Unit Colac Herald Mixx1063 Colac-Otway Shire

02.01.2022 2019/20 Financial Year Statistics

02.01.2022 Remember at 2:00am tomorrow morning you need to put your clock forward 1 hour as Daylight Savings commences. Along with that, its a great chance to replace the batteries in your smoke alarm. This should be done every 6 months. While you are inspecting your smoke alarms, check how old they are as they are required to be replaced every 10 years. ... Only working smoke alarms save lives. CFA (Country Fire Authority)

02.01.2022 COLAC OTWAY BACK TO ZERO ACTIVE COVID CASE! Such awesome news yesterday that the Colac Otway Shire has returned to Zero Active cases for the first time since July 17. Amazing Job Colac!

02.01.2022 Yesterday was a historic day for fire services in Victoria. Fire Rescue Victoria was welcomed as our new fire and emergency service partner. With that, CFA proudly became a 100% volunteer based fire service. We are skilled, determined and here to serve Victorians now and into the future. We are from the community, working for the community.... We are CFA. CFA (Country Fire Authority) CFA Chief Officer

01.01.2022 Being able to give your precise location in an emergency can save vital time and lives. The free #emergencyplus app has been upgraded with @what3words - Ever...y 3 metre square in the world has been given a #whatthreewords address so you can #HelpTripleZeroFindYou with just three words. Be prepared this summer and download the app!