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KALAMUNDA VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE - A BRIEF HISTORY
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Date
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23rd March 1959
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Inaugural meeting of the Foundations members of the Kalamunda Brigade attended by
Messrs:-
M.E. Barnes
W.T. Halse
H.R. Law
P.A. Conrad
D.H. Hood
N.C. Pember
F.B. Cooper
R.F. Howard
T.W. Smith
T.J. Halse
V.A. Jones
V.E. Watson
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23rd March 1959
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The following were elected as Office Bearers:-
Captain:- T. Smith
Foreman:- T. Halse
Apparatus Officer:- W. Halse
Secretary:- F Cooper
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10th September 1959
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Dodge Fire Engine - Motor No. 10 fitted with a 150/200g.p.m. pump officially handed over at the Road Board premises.
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1st November 1961
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Approval given to construct a Fire Station in Kalamunda during the current financial
Year.
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28th May 1963
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First meeting held in the new Fire Station at 38 Central Road Kalamunda
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25th July 1963
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Bedford Fire Truck No.2 arrived on station and placed in service officially on the 1st August 1963. Licence No. KM000 had 97 miles on the clock.
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10th August 1963
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Kalamunda Fire Station was officially opened at 10.30am by the Hon Ross Hutchison Chief Secretary.
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16th June 1964
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The Brigade resolved to purchase the outgoing (13) brass helmets and give them to the members - to be distributed by seniority. The cost was 1 pound each.
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23rd September 1973
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The supposed cause of a house fire was listed as "Careless housewife". The family had gone out and left a pot cooking on the stove
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9th December 1973
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Light Tanker Number 84 was introduced to the Brigade and this now makes KVFRS a two vehicle turnout Brigade.
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30th March 1975
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KVFRS attended its 1000th fire - a grass fire in Enid Road Kalamunda. This has taken 16 years and one month
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4th June 1975
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Breathing apparatus is first mooted for the Brigade
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14th April 1976
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Pagers are first mooted for the Brigade, but eventually shelved
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8th July 1976
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Light Tanker 84 was replaced with a Ford F250 Light Tanker - LT 156
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30th September 1976
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Light Tanker 156 was replaced with a Toyota Landruiser - LT 61. It seems the 'blue oval' was not quite up to scratch.
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15th March 1978
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Six members were selected to be the first Kalamunda Firefighters to be trained in the use of Breathing Apparatus.
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17th January 1979
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The Brigade was to receive 5 pagers for evaluation
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25th February 1979
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Extensions to the rear carpark commenced
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30th June 1979
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Kalamunda Station conducted its first official Open Day (Saturday & Sunday) - run in conjunction with WA's 150th celebrations
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16th February 1983
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Bedford Fire Truck No.2 was de-commissioned. In 19 Years 6 Months the appliance attended 1862 incidents.
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16th February 1983
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International ACCO Medium Pumper MP124 commissioned.
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9th December 1983
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KVFRS attended its 2000th fire - a grass fire in Kalamunda Road Kalamunda.
The second thousand took 8 years and eight months.
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5th April 1986
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Brigade attends a kitchen fire in John Street Gooseberry Hill. Fire was caused by the owner leaving a pot on the stove which boiled dry causing extensive damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout. The significance is that the owner subsequently became a long serving member of the Brigade
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3rd July 1988
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Kalamunda Station hosted an Open Day
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11th June 1989
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At 12.18 the Brigade was called to probably its most traumatic incident. 21 members attended a traffic accident at the corner of Lesmurdie Road and Gladys Road Lesmurdie. Three generations of one family lost their lives (Grandmother, Mother & Daughter) in a two car collision. The repercussions were felt for some time.
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25th November 1990
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At 15.21 a call was received to a property fire in Gooseberry Hill. A prompt response resulted in a woman being found by 2 firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus. She had collapsed on the bedroom floor in a smoke filled house. Thanks to their efforts and other firefighters outside administering mouth to mouth resuscitation, she was resuscitated and eventually made a full recovery - a rewarding effort by all.
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28th January 1991
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At 21.59 the Brigade was called to a car on fire at the top of Crystal Brook Road in Lesmurdie. The car was allegedly pushed over the side of the hill but no trace was ever found. What happened to the mystery car? (Refer to 26th March 2000)
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7th April 1991
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KVFRS attended its 3000th fire - a shed fire in Haynes Street Kalamunda. The third thousand took 7 years and 5 months.
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16th February 1992
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At 2.32am the Brigade was called to assist at a well rescue in Lesmurdie. A tragic series of events saw two lives lost when a young man entered a well and succumbed to toxic fumes. A well intentioned rescuer also became a victim and another almost lost his life as well.
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13th September 1992
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An Open Day at the Station was attended by an estimated 4000 people through the day. The highlight appeared to be the rides given on the Perth hydraulic platform giving the lucky few a spectacular view of the area and over the trees looking down to Perth.
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5th September 1993
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Who is the enemy? At a house fire in George Road Lesmurdie, the occurrence book shows that F/F Nick Rowe was KO'd by F/F Repacholi hitting him with a ladder. One can only presume it was not deliberate!!!
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26th September 1995
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Ex-Capt King, a stalwart of the Brigade - over 35 years of service with the Kalamunda Brigade and a further 7 years with Bassendean Volunteers passed away.
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25th February 1997
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KVFRS attended its 4000th fire - a vacuum cleaner fire in Palmateer Road Carmel. The fourth thousand took 6 years and 10 months.
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24th May 1997
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At 23.49 a call was received to assist police at Kalamunda Central. Two suspects were bravely eluding police on the roof and taunting them. When the Brigade arrived and a ladder set up, the two young men surrendered meekly after looking at the three burly firefighters.
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22nd May 1999
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The Brigade celebrated its 40th birthday by gathering as many past members as possible for a function at the Kalamunda Ag Hall.
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13th February 2000
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The Brigade was called to a Hazchem incident where a few drums of unknown liquid had been spilled. This was minor compared to what else was in the pantech - millions of dollars worth of electrical equipment - stolen of course. The thieves had made off with what they wanted and left the rest. Unfortunately, the site was well guarded.
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26th March 2000
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At 3.22am the Brigade was redirected from another call to attend a scrub fire at the top of Crystal Brook Road Lesmurdie. During firefighting a Holden Commodore was found at the bottom of a ravine with no one in attendance and no sign of how long it had been there. Could it have been the car 'lost' on the 28th January 1991. Probably not, but it makes a good story.
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21st October 2001
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International ACCO Medium Pumper MP124 de-commissioned. In 18 Years 8 Months the appliance attended 2956 incidents.
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21st October 2001
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Scania Medium Pumper MP65 was officially handed over to Captain Moiler by the Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts. Licence No. KM000 had approx. 2000kms on the clock.
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