Minister visits NSW Fire Brigades Logistics Support Centre
Published: 30th March 2010
Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan today joined NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins to inspect operations at the NSWFB Logistics Support Centre at Greenacre.The centre is the largest specialist facility of its type in Australia and features specialist units including Fire Investigation and Research, Fleet Management, Engineering, Property Services, Procurement, Community Safety, Specialised Operations, and Communications.
"It is important to recognise the crucial roles that our logistics, property and administrative staff deliver to ensure that essential front line services are well supported," Mr Whan said.
"The role of our firefighters is varied and diverse - they don't simply pull people from burning buildings or crashed cars and there are many parts of the NSWFB where firefighters and non uniformed experts specialise – ranging from fire investigation to community preparedness."
As part of the visit, Mr Whan met one of the NSWFB's accelerant detection dogs, Winna and her handler, firefighter Joel Walton. Winna and another detection dog Sheba help investigate the cause of suspicious fires.
"These specialist detection dogs have been trained to sniff their way through the scene of a fire and detect liquid fuels and suspicious substances used to light fires," Mr Whan said.
"We believe that a fire service, which uses cutting edge technology and science, is in the best interest of firefighters and the community."
Mr Whan thanked firefighters for their ongoing dedication to public safety.
"Protecting residents from fire and other emergencies is one of the Government's highest priorities and we are seeing a fantastic example of the commitment of our emergency services' personnel here in Greenacre," Mr Whan said.
"I want to thank the firefighters and support staff who play a vital role and continue to help to make NSW a safer place to live."