In the aftermath of severe storms that swept through the area, leaving a trail of destruction and plunging much of the community into darkness, the Ormeau Rural Fire Brigade emerged as a beacon of support for the community.
In a heartfelt Facebook post on December 26, 2023, knowing the brigade was in a position to act, 1st Officer Ben Watson opened the station to the community and extended an invitation to residents affected by the storm, offering the use of their facilities. “If you are a resident with no power or hot water and would like to use our facilities for showering and charging devices, you are welcome to visit” the post read.
Undeterred by ongoing storm-related challenges, the brigade continued its support on December 27, opening its doors once again. The facilities, including showers, air conditioning, and a free sausage sizzle, were made available to anyone in need. The station became a hub for more than just basic necessities, offering a space for socialising with activities like kids’ colouring and TV.
Amazingly, the station also has a Tesla battery pack and solar panels installed, which were made possible through a community grant.
So the new generation batteries hold 14.5 kw, a normal usage pattern with fridges and freezers, radios charging and fans draws around 600-800w – so the battery will easily keep us going overnight and then recharge during the day from solar. No way we could run the A/C but in an emergency we are able to still perform all of our emergency response duties without interruption. So if we did lose power as a fire brigade we can function indefinitely
Blake, Ormeau RFB
As power issues persisted and high temperatures loomed on December 28, the brigade adjusted its schedule, opening from 11 am to 8 pm! Recognising the urgency of escaping the predicted heat, the brigade provided air conditioning, showers, device charging, and once again, a free sausage sizzle.
In a conversation with the brigade, they mentioned the response from the community was steady but invaluable. “Thanks for sharing the post initially and reaching out; it’s the least we could do in the face of what happened on Christmas Day“.
Might we also add that while the station was open and providing all these services to the community, many of the firefighters own homes were damaged and without power!
What – a – bunch – of – legends.
