Auxiliary Fire Fighters – Now Recruiting!

Friendship, community and contribution are three of the key benefits of becoming an auxiliary fire fighter at Proserpine Fire Station according to the existing team who are currently looking for between three and four new recruits.

Offering maximum flexibility around your current work, an auxiliary position means you can work part-time in this paid role and be ‘on-call’ in your downtime.

New recruits also receive fully paid training which includes a two-week course in Yeppoon where they learn to respond to real life emergency situations such as navigating buildings full of smoke and working with breathing apparatus.

Of course, getting paid is not the reason most people choose this sort of job, it is more of a calling to serve.

“For me it’s about helping the community, we do it for the people, to give our time back,” said Emanuele Ventura (known as Ace to his team mates).

Ace is originally from Italy but moved to Australia in 2005 and to the Whitsundays in 2007, following his love of nature.

“Being an auxiliary fire fighter is more than being called out to emergencies,” said Ace.

“We also interact with community which is my favourite part – we provide a community service for schools, we do Colour Runs and of course the Santa Run!”

Fellow ‘Firie’, Keith Thomas started in the role in March last year and says his main motivation was to make sure he is there for his daughter and any other local kids if they need help.

“My daughter’s a teenager now so she’ll be one of the people driving around,” explains Keith.

“I wanted to be there for her or any of her friends if there was an incident.”

Keith works at the Proserpine Sugar Mill and says they are very flexible, making allowances when he gets a call out.

Meanwhile, Ace works at the mines and managers his commitment to the local fire station by working it within his seven-on-seven-off roster.

Lieutenant Chris Harvey has been an auxiliary fire fighter since he was just 20 years old.

He used to work at Proserpine Sugar Mill as well, and has just transferred to the mines, which enables him to contribute more to the fire station in his downtime.

“I like to be involved in the community through many aspects,” said Chris.

“We go to everything a permanent station would from structure fires to car accidents to alarms at the hospital or nursing home or airport.”

The current Fire Station is a new facility, officially opened in March 2018 and built to replace the old station which was over 50 years old and located in Proserpine Main Street.

The station takes between 150 and 190 calls per year, roughly three a week.

There are two fire trucks operating and they currently have 16 fire fighters on-staff, but are looking for at least three more.

“You don’t have to be Superman, or big built,” jokes Chris.

“All shapes and sizes can help – in fact smaller people can get into a car easier!”

Anyone interested in becoming an auxiliary fire fighter is requested to call the Mackay Fire Station, who will show you through the application process and then invite you to attend the regular training session at the Proserpine Fire Station on Wednesday evening.‍

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Fire Fighter Emanuele (Ace) Ventura, Lieutenant Chris Harvey and Fire Fighter Keith Thomas. Photo credit: Rachael Smith.

Two fire trucks operate from the new fire station which opened in 2018

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