A ‘fire-wise’ garden at Jandakot Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade’s new $1.57 million station could herald a new way of thinking about Western Australian gardens.
The new station, which was officially opened today by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan, has a fire-wise garden that shows some of the best natural ways to help reduce flames affecting a building including high-moisture plants, non-flammable mulch and gravel paths.
The garden will be open to the public, and the Jandakot Bush Fire Brigade will also use the new facility to host an array of community education events.
Western Australia’s Emergency Services Levy contributed more than $570,000 towards the new fire station with an additional $1 million from the City of Cockburn.
The new double-storey fire station replaces a small shed built in the 1980s, which the 55-member brigade had outgrown.
It is equipped with two large training rooms, new change rooms and space for three fire appliances including a 12.2 bulk water tanker and a 3.4 tanker.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:
“The fire-wise garden at Jandakot Bush Fire Brigade leads the way in showing the community how they can take small steps to help protect their home from a bushfire.
“Congratulations to the Jandakot brigade members for pioneering this new and innovative way of educating the public about reducing their bushfire risk.
“Too often properties are put at risk because vegetation around homes has fuelled a fire.
“This $1.57 million state-of-the-art fire station is functional inside and out, and I hope it provides a great base for the Jandakot Bush Fire Brigade into the future.”
