Littlehampton Country Fire Service

CFS_Station
station_name = Littlehampton


caption = Littlehampton CFS station
established = 1983
region = 1
group = Heysen
station_classification = Urban/Rural
specialities = Water Tanker
members = ~60
appliances = 24, 24p, Heysen BWC12
location = Main Road Littlehampton
suburbs = Littlehampton SA, Blakiston SA, Totness SA.
homepage =
footnotes = In an Emergency, dial 000

The station was constructed after a generous offer of land was put forward by Keith Nitchke in 1983. After it was built, it was decided to serve as a monument to the late Ron Childs who perished in the Ash Wednesday fires. (also see, Brigade history, for more information)

Since then there has been an extension to the structure of the building. The extension allows more space in the appliance bay which now houses three appliances (Littlehampton 24p, Heysen BWC & Littlehampton 24).

The station also has a coms. room which provides an organised space to undertake liaison from the station to abroad. As well as this it is used as an area to carry out paperwork and arrange logistics.The crew room is where the majority of our time is spent within its proximity is a TV, a DVD and VCR player, a kitchen area, Honour Board, Darts Board, The Drinks Fridge, and a series of tables and chairs. Monthly meetings (usually quarterly) and just general activities are held in here.

Also within the building is a storage shed and toilet amenities. [http://www.littlehamptoncfs.org.au]

History

In the beginning there was a small corrugated iron shed opposite the Great Eastern Hotel, on Junction Road. The shed was used prior to the wartime years to store tin knapsacks and a stirrup pump. Locals used this equipment in case of a fire, along with Cleggett Bros. International truck. Forty-four gallon drums were on the truck to wet the bags used to fight the fire. The drums were filled from a bore at the transport yard. A smoke sighting was the only way of raising the alarm.

Many years later on the 1st March 1983, there was a town meeting at the institute attended by 66 people with 12 apologies. The subject of the meeting was to form the Littlehampton Fire Brigade. At this meeting Keith Nitschke offered to donate land for a fire station, subject to the investigation of the best available site, to ensure public interest.

On the 16th March 1983, a second meeting was held at the institute to further investigate the purchase of a fire truck, station location and logistics. Emphasis placed upon buying a fire truck first, and making it operational, and to suit Littlehampton needs. Secondly, to build a fire station using donated materials and volunteer labour and further fundraising activities. Councilor Ron Norris attended both meetings.

During July 1983, a 1968 four-wheel drive international fire truck with a 500 gallon water tank was purchased for $11,000 from McLaren Vale. The truck was refitted with a 1 ½ inch A.G.E. Darly pump and two fifty metre hose lines. Also equipped with foam, and two breathing apparatus sets. The truck was refitted at les Garwood farm machinery shop with more equipment built on. At this time training and lectures were held at the institute on Monday nights at 7.00pm. On completion the truck was kept at Bruce King’s residence at Littlehampton Lodge.

In October 1983 the Mount Barker Rotary Club donated a total of $33,000 of which $20,000 was from the Rotary International Bush Fire relief fund. The fire station was built as a memorial to Ron Childs, a local resident and president of the Mount Barker Rotary Club, who died from burns as a result of fighting the Ash Wednesday fire.

November 1983 the Littlehampton C.F.S was considered operational with the fire truck responding to fire calls from Littlehampton Lodge. Work on the new fire station was still being carried out despite the weather conditions with voluntary labour.

During October 1984 the Littlehampton Country Fire service officially opened its new fire station by the C.F.S director Mr. L.C. Johns, and dedicated it to the late Ron Childs. 150 invited guests attended the opening. [http://www.littlehamptoncfs.org.au]

Appliances

Littlehampton 24

4WD, 2000L General Purpose Appliance
Hino FT
*Water Capacity: 2000 Litres
*Foam Quantity: 80 Litres
*Registration Number: VVR616
*Equipment::Only rural equipment kept on this truck.

Littlehampton 24p

4WD, 2000L Urban Pumper
Isuzu FTS750 Crew
*Water Capacity: 2000 Litres
*Foam Quantity: 60 Litres
*Registration Number: WLO908
*Equipment:
**Breathing Apparatus: 2
**Chainsaw
**Lighting pole
**Generator

Heysen BWC12

Large Volume Water Tanker
International TF2670
*Comments: Located at Littlehampton Station
*Water Capacity: 10000 Litres
*Registration Number: SVO010:Not used for fighting fires, only used for filling other trucks up with water

Other brigades

Mt Lofty Group

* Aldgate Country Fire Service
* Burnside Country Fire Service
* Bridgewater Country Fire Service
* Bradbury Country Fire Service
* Ironbank Country Fire Service
* Mylor Country Fire Service
* Stirling Country Fire Service
* Upper Sturt Country Fire Service

Heysen Group

* Littlehampton Country Fire Service
* Mount Barker Country Fire Service
* Nairne Country Fire Service
* Hahndorf Country Fire Service
* Echunga Country Fire Service
* Macclesfield Country Fire Service
* Meadows Country Fire Service
* Brukunga Country Fire Service

References

* SA CFS Promotions unit website [http://www.fire-brigade.asn.au/Station_Display.asp?Service_Code=SACFS&Station_Code=STRL CFS]
* Littlehampton CFS official page [http://www.littlehamptoncfs.org.au]

ee also

* Country Fire Service
* Country Fire Authority

External links

* [http://www.littlehamptoncfs.org.au Littlehampton Fire station official page ]
* [http://www.cfs.org.au Official CFS Webpage ]
* [http://www.safirefighter.com.au Website for South Australian Fire-fighters]
* [http://www.fire-brigade.asn.au/Station_Display.asp?Service_Code=SACFS&Station_Code=LTHT CFS Promotions unit - Stirling page]