Giru left without fire support

RESIDENTS in Giru say they are concerned homes will be burnt to the ground and lives will be lost due to a lack of firefighters.

A shortage of available local auxiliary firefighters has meant Giru Fire Station is currently unable to respond in the event of a nearby emergency and would mean crews from Ayr or Townsville would have to be summoned.

The lack of local auxiliary firefighters has seen Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Southern Area Commander Inspector Steve Knight put the call out for Giru locals to consider joining the auxiliary service.

“We have an ongoing campaign to get more auxiliary staff locally,” Mr Knight said.

“We do our normal word of mouth as well as activities out in the public eye.

“All your resources comes locally from the community, currently there is only one person due to people moving in and out (of Giru).”

Giru resident Kim Wright said that without a firefighting response in the town, she is concerned “we are going to be fried”.

“My biggest concern is if there is a fire at our home my house is going to burn down before anyone gets down here,” she said.

“I understand small town resources are stretched.

“Our concern is the community.”

Ms Knight said of particular concern was the possibility of a highway accident or an incident at the mill that could require a more urgent response.

Mr Knight said it was not the first time that the Giru station had been rendered unable to attend emergencies.

He said locals who joined the auxiliary firefighters and lived in Giru often moved due to employment.

He said an auxiliary firefighter from Ayr was attending the station “a few afternoons a week” to conduct equipment testing and machine checks.

Mr Knight explained that it could take up to two years to build up auxiliary numbers again due to training requirements.