Breathe easy - we've got this!

Jabiru Fire Station volunteers in breathing apparatus make their way through an office in a simulated search and recovery operation as Mick Hutton and Mike Martin look on.

THE two-way radio crackles with the news that a person has been found unconscious in a smoke-filled, burning building.

Keeping in close contact with one another, two firefighters in breathing apparatus work to facilitate a rescue, moving close to the ground to avoid the stifling heat. The visibility inside the burning office in Jabiru is zero - as you would expect if you are wearing a blindfold!

Thankfully, this is just an exercise. The two firies are part of a group undergoing training at a location in Jabiru’s industrial area, learning how to conduct pre-donning checks, operate, and maintain breathing apparatus.

Even without the fire, the afternoon heat is stifling, with an outside temperature over 40 degrees. Inside their suits, the trainees are doing it tough. But as Jabiru Fire Station Officer-In-Charge Mick Hutton tells them, “You’ve just got to suck it up.”

The Jabiru Fire Station crew is an energetic bunch who undergo regular training and keep fit by working out three nights a week.

Their commitment pays off each year when they regularly win the NT Firefighters Games – but more importantly, their regime provides our community with the safety of an emergency response capability that is second to none. Mr Hutton said the course, held in March, had provided both new and refresher training for the firies.

“We had 9 people from the auxiliaries and volunteers who gave up 24 hours of their time for training towards gaining skills in using breathing apparatus,” Mick said. “The training will enable them to provide support in hazardous environments. We will be dealing with hazardous materials and encapsulated suits in the next round of training.”

He said the crew met regularly every Monday night between 6 and 9pm for fire service skills and training.

“We do fitness training every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5.30pm at various locations around town,” he said.

If you are interested in joining the Jabiru Fire Station, contact Mike or Mick on 98979 2502.