More firefighters needed

Inspector, Area Commander, Scenic Rim, Joe Pope. Photo by Susie Cunningham.
Inspector, Area Commander, Scenic Rim, Joe Pope. Photo by Susie Cunningham.

The Scenic Rim’s new Area Commander has put out a call for more firefighters as crews gear up for a season of fast-moving grass fires.

As Area Commander for Scenic Rim, Beaudesert-based Inspector Joe Pope is responsible for 115 auxiliary personnel and 12 trucks across eight stations at Kooralbyn, Rathdowney, Beaudesert, Canungra, Harrisville, Kalbar, Boonah and Tamborine Mountain.

When the Beaudesert Bulletin caught up with Inspector Pope, he was short 15 staff across the Command, including needing five more staff in Beaudesert.

Inspector Pope has been with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) for 10 years and was with the New Zealand Fire Service for 20 years before that.

He went straight from Rotorua to Rockhampton and after several years working out of the State Operations Centre, including during Covid and the floods, he was keen to get back into an operational role locally.

“I live down the road at Cedar Grove, so wanted to get back to an Area Command role and support the auxiliary firefighters in the area,” he said.

“We’re looking to bolster our crews locally, especially during the day, so we’re keen to recruit people who already live and work in Beaudesert.”

Auxiliary firefighters don’t need any experience in the field, but must be 18 or older, have held a class C drivers’ licence for at least one year, be an Australian or New Zealand citizen and have their employers’ consent to leave work for callouts.

Auxiliary Firefighters are casual, station-based firefighters who respond to emergency situations when the demand arises. The roles are classed as 0.1 full time equivalent and most auxiliary firefighters also have paid work elsewhere.

Auxiliary work varies based on callouts and there is a two-hour weekly training requirement each week, with Beaudesert auxiliary staff training Wednesdays.

Beaudesert station has 17 firefighters and needs five more.

Inspector Pope said the work was varied.

“There’s car accidents, alarms at premises, structure fires, assisting with rescuing hikers on Mt Barney, farm accidents, clean-outs after flooding, assisting the rurals with grass fires – there’s plenty of variety,” he said.

“It’s a great way to gain difference experience, assist the community you live in, feel camaraderie with the crews.”

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About Susie Cunningham 560 Articles
Susie is an experienced journalist with a love of sharing local stories and being part of the community. She is one of the partners behind Scenic Rim Media - the company that owns Beaudesert Bulletin, Canungra Times and Tamborine Mountain News.