Dream job beckons for new firefighters
A NEW batch of firefighters will swell the ranks of Tasmania Fire Service as the bushfire season shapes up as a busy one.
Six of the 15 new firefighters will be posted in the North, five in the NorthWest and four in the South, bringing the number of career firefighters in Tasmania to 312 full-time equivalents.
TFS chief officer Chris Arnol said the graduating trainees were selected from a pool of more than 1000 applicants.
“From next week they will be on station and ready to respond to call-outs for all types of incidents,” he said.
Cassie Barnes, 30, had studied Antarctic science before setting her mind on becoming a firefighter three years ago.
“The first time I walked into a physical assessment day during the recruitment process, I was amazed at the encouragement and support provided by firefighters to complete strangers undergoing the testing phase,” Ms Barnes said.
Simon Moore, 34, left his career in education to pursue his dream of being a firefighter.
“To me, the opportunity to be a firefighter always seemed like a pipe dream,” he said.
“That was until I realised that everything I had learnt through my military and education careers was applicable to the role of a firefighter.
“Joining TFS feels like a culmination of all the skills, values and experiences I have had throughout my life, rather than a complete change in direction.”
Firefighter Marc Danieletto was awarded the honour of Dux of Trainee Development Course 2017.
Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Rene Hidding said the Government was a strong supporter of Tasmania’s “brave firefighters” and extra resources had been committed to the TFS to ensure the state was better prepared than ever before should dangerous fires occur.
“This includes our investment of $55 million for our fuel reduction program and the roll-out of 90 new fire trucks,” he said.