More than just firefighters

HOW times have changed when a fireman or woman just put out fires.

The organisation has moved from being the fire brigade to the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES).

Fires play a much smaller part of the organisation’s role. The emphasis is now on “emergency”. Fighting fires are third behind vehicle crashes and false fire alarms.

The latest figures show officers are almost twice as likely to be called to a smoke alarm than a bushfire. Calls to assist other agencies, including helping paramedics lift heavy patients, is also on the rise, along with prank calls and swiftwater rescues.

Structure fires, which include homes or businesses, ranked as the ninth most common callout.

The men and women of QFES are multi-skilled and flexible.

They are involved in storms and cyclone recovery efforts, building fire safety, hazardous substance incidents, searches and rescues, crime scenes and animal disease outbreaks and work closely with police, ambulance and SES personnel.

Interestingly the figures show the Cairns station at Manunda is the third busiest behind Roma St in the Brisbane CBD and Kemp Place in the Fortitude Valley.

Times have changed so much that the fire commissioner, Katarina Carroll who once worked in Cairns, is a former police assistant commissioner.

After years of neglect the fire service has received much needed modern fire trucks, equipment and stations.

So, next time you accuse a firefighter of spending too much time in the gym or playing cards, think again. Nick Dalton Deputy editor