Harden Fire and Rescue Members NSW: Jon Parker, Deputy Doug Baker, Superintendent Steve Hayes, Michael Burns, Inspector Andrew Erlik, Harden Captain Wal Leonow with Area Commander Ken Murphy, Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson, Harden Mayor John Horton, Assistant Commissioner Rob McNeil, Harden Shire General Manager Trevor Drowley and Nic Nadycz.
Harden Fire Station is the latest station to receive a $102,000 rehabilitation vehicle designed to support southern NSW firefighters attending large fires and other emergencies. It is the third vehicle in the state to be delivered to a Fire & Rescue brigade.
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson today officially handed over the rehabilitation van to the crew at Harden Fire Station, where the van will be based. Katrina said there are only three rehabilitation vans servicing NSW and this van will be responsible for supporting southern NSW firefighters while they attend severe incidents and fight large fires. “It’s a fact that firefighters put others first, sometimes to the detriment of themselves, which is why this van will play a key role in supporting firefighters protecting the community,” Katrina said. “The state-of-the-art rehab van will have special cooling chairs to help firefighters recover from heat exposure during firefighting operations. They work by cooling the arms and neck of the firefighters by immersing them in cool water.
The van is also equipped with tables, tents, chairs, fans, bins, fridges, ladders, fuel, generators, sterilisation equipment, gas cookers and special ration packets.” Katrina said it was great to see the van based at Harden Fire Station. “When it comes to frontline emergency services, you don’t get any more frontline than standing face-to-face with fire, protecting lives and property. “With summer approaching and the start of the fire season already upon us and a high fuel load after a wet winter, I’m pleased to see this rehab van based here in Harden”, Katrina said. FRNSW Superintendent Steven Hayes said “ We can now rehabilitate our members on the gorund and get them back to the front safely.
Fire and Rescue officers at Harden Fire Station and across Southern NSW did an extraordinary job in protecting their communities and this new rehabilitation van would help them to perform their work more effectively. “FRNSW continues to provide fire and rescue officers with the best equipment for their vital work protecting NSW families,” Superintendent Hayes said.
