Career Fire and Rescue Service of Western Australia

The Career Fire & Rescue Service of Western Australia (WAF&RS) provides the city of Perth and other major regional cities in the state of Western Australia with a comprehensive response to, and protection from emergencies such as fire, rescue and hazardous materials incidents.

The Career WAF&RS consists of in excess of 850 professional firefighters A Centenary of Service, The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, 1999 ] working from 20 metropolitan stations and 5 country stations. [ [http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au/internet/?MenuID=216&ContentID=376 History - Fire and Rescue Service] , Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia (2006)] Headquarters and number one fire station is located at 480 Hay Street, Perth. Also contained within the building is the communications center and managerial support staff.

History

The WAF&RS can trace its origins to the Fire Brigades Board, formed in 1899. In 1909 the Fire Brigades Board became the Western Australian Fire Brigades Board which had control of the Western Australian Fire Brigade (WAFB). In 1995, in order to reflect the greater diversity of function of a modern Fire Brigade the WAF&RS came into being.

Roles

The Western Australian Fire and Rescue Service fulfills the following roles:

#Fire Suppression
#Combatting Hazardous Chemical Incidents
#Rescue
#CBR - Chemical, Biological, Radiological
#Public Education
#Ancillary Roles
Fire Suppression

The types of fires the WAF&RS is called upon to suppress are many and varied. They range from simple grass or rubbish fires to complex structure fires involving chemicals. The two general classifications of fire that are generally referred to are property and wildfires.

References