FRNSW prepared for anything this ski season
Published: 22nd June 2020
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is prepared for anything this winter as the NSW ski fields prepare to open to an eager public on 24 June.
The FRNSW Perisher Valley Station will be fully staffed for the ski season and able to respond to a variety of incidents that occur with the influx of snowsports enthusiasts to the area.
Perisher Valley Station Captain Garth Willmott said numbers are currently restricted to around 50 per cent of usual under the current COVID 19 guidelines. However, as restrictions are eased the station will still be busy with more people in the area.
“During the winter season we attend numerous calls from the public, including assisting with motor vehicle accidents as people struggle with the snowy and icy conditions on the road, as well as fires in buildings, machinery and vehicles,” Captain Willmott said.
“To cope with the unique local environment, the Perisher Valley Station has a fleet of specialised vehicles to respond to a variety of incidents. This includes a Primary Rescue stowed 4x4 Rescue Tanker with snow chains, two Hagglund over snow pumpers, two 6x6 ATV bikes and four snowmobiles, which allow us to go almost anywhere.
“While we receive a lot of calls over the winter season, around 65 per cent are false alarms in nature from things such as steam from showers, burnt toast and smoke from fireplaces.
“We understand people do their best to avoid this happening but again we ask them to try and help prevent these issues occurring so that we can focus on incidents that require our attention.”
During the 2018-2019 snow season Perisher Fire Station responded to 56 calls in total with four of these being small building fires, including heaters igniting from faulty electrical connections.
“While we want people heading to the ski fields to enjoy themselves, we also ask that they stay vigilant and don’t rush on the roads as conditions can be hazardous especially if you are not familiar with driving in snow and ice.”
“We also ask building owners and managers to check their heaters after the long summer break to ensure they are clean and in good working order.” “FRNSW have now launched their Get Ready For Winter checklist (PDF) online and are urging the community to download this and ensure their homes are prepared.” For more information on home fire safety visit https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9284
