About UsThe Tooradin Fire Station is located on Evans Street Tooradin. It is a fully volunteer brigade belonging to CFA District 8, Casey Group. The modern station was built in 1984 – During this time it has undergone many improvements. It is an efficient and modern station capable of serving the local community as well as the wider region. The Brigade has 27 volunteer members, and we are ably led by Captain David Bulman. |
Our VolunteersCaptain Bulman is supported by:
| The Station boasts:
| How We OperateThe Brigade trains on Monday evening at 07:30 PM. We also perform station duties on Sunday mornings from 09:00. This includes appliance inventory checks, general housekeeping around the station, community events, area familiarization, hydrant checks and so forth. |
The Safety of the community and our volunteer members is our number one priority.Our mission is fire prevention and fire response, but also includes other emergencies, such as motor vehicle incidents, flooding, wind damage and aircraft incidents. We are also involved with community safety and education. Our Risk profile includes grass and scrub fires from grazing pastures and bushland around the foreshore, Shed and Hay fires on farm land, Light industrial and domestic structure fires, roads and highway incidents, and the Tooradin airfield. We may also be called upon to provide help on campaign fires, such as those that occurred on Black Saturday, or even interstate fires. |
Early History
| The early history of the Tooradin Fire Brigade is not fully documented, making it difficult to verify all the details. Much of what is known comes from the recollections of former Captain and long-time member Mr. E.A. Clay AFSM. The origins of the brigade trace back to the mid-1940s, following the devastating Clyde fires of 1944. A group of prominent Tooradin residents formed a local fire brigade in response to the disaster. This early brigade appears to have been fairly active, though records are sparse. Some of the individuals involved in the formation of the brigade included:
During this period, the brigade acquired a 1930s two-tonne Chevy truck, which was outfitted with firefighting equipment. It is believed that the truck may have been donated by Mr. F. Hamilton. Over time, however, the appliance fell into disrepair. In 1956, Mr. Lew Genoni presented a report concluding that the truck was beyond repair and could not be registered. After a meeting, the brigade decided to sell the truck for twenty pounds. The Tooradin Fire Brigade began taking on a more formal structure in 1956, with Mr. W.A. Williams elected as president. Mr. Williams, a long-time resident of Tooradin who arrived in the 1920s, had married Florence McCarthy in 1925—the first wedding held in the local Catholic church. The couple operated a general store, located where Pink Ladies Milk Bar is today. Recognizing the need for a stronger brigade, Mr. Williams and the committee set out to secure land for a new fire station. After successful negotiations, land behind the preschool on Lyall Street was transferred to the CFA. The first fire station was built there, costing £500, with £340 raised by the brigade, including a £50 donation from Mr. Williams. | The CFA provided the brigade with a trailer appliance, which served the community for many years. During this time, the brigade's leadership and members worked tirelessly to raise funds for a more modern fire truck. Through their efforts and the generosity of the community, they raised £500 for a new truck and a telephone-activated siren. On December 7, 1965, Captain Frank Foy, Lieutenant Codner, and President Hamilton travelled to Ballarat to pick up a new Austin 2.2 Tanker (pictured). Remarkably, this tanker continued to serve Tooradin until 1984. Between 1954 and 1972, several new names became part of the brigade’s membership, including:
Mr. Williams retired as president in May 1972, having laid the groundwork for what would become a more modern and efficient brigade. Over the years, the brigade responded to some of the state's largest fires, including the Dandenong Fires of 1962, the Gippsland Fires in 1965, and Ash Wednesday in 1983.
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 | Celebrating 70 Years of Service to the CFAOn the 19th of September 2015 the Tooradin Fire Brigade celebrated 70 years of service to CFA and the local community with a luncheon and presentation of Life Member Medals to past and present Members at the station. The day was a huge success and as a long-time member of this Brigade it was great to see and catch up with people who where instrumental in getting this Brigade to where it is today. |