Last week career firefighters received $55,000 worth of new equipment and have completed training for enhanced rescues.
Peel district officer Rick Darlow said Mandurah Fire Station could now cater for heavy rescues, such as trains, trucks, bus and industrial accidents.
‘Previously the closest stations that could perform these tasks were in Fremantle and Bunbury,’ he said.
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READ NOW‘We have a new vehicle with 55 tonne jacks, jaws of life with a 70 tonne capacity, an airbag for heavy lifting and equipment to cut concrete. These enhanced capabilities are important because we now have two major railways and more traffic through the region with the Forrest Highway.’
Mandurah fire station has recorded a steady increase in calls to traffic crash and/or rescue from 24 in 2001-02 to 81 in 2011/12.