Fiskville
Encyclopedia
CFA Training College, Fiskville is the training college for members of the Country Fire Authority
(CFA), which is a large, predominantly volunteer fire and emergency service which has legislative responsibility for fire and emergencies in regional Victoria (Australia)
. The college is located near Ballan
.
CFA Fiskville is used by CFA volunteers and staff for general training (both theory and practical), but has many other uses, including:
CFA Fiskville is located on the site of the old Radio Australia
shortwave transmitter, just south of Ballan
, between Ballarat and Melbourne
on the Western Freeway (take the Ballan exit - it is signed 'CFA Fiskville').
The name of the property comes from Sir Ernest Fisk, the Chairman of Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited
(AWA) when the property was owned and managed by AWA and used as a long distance radio communication station as part of the Imperial Wireless Chain
. The original California Bungalow style buildings at the front of the property are still used as accommodation for student firefighters and were originally built to house the station's technical staff and their families. The original generator building now houses the Teaching Centre while the concrete blocks used to anchor the aerials' guy wires are still visible in multiple locations around the property.
Fiskville is also an operational fire station, and runs 2- Type 3 Medium pumpers, a Type 3 Heavy pumper, and a 3.4D Tanker.
The practical training area is known as the 'Pad'. On the Pad there are several different drill areas, including:
There are other scenarios around the grounds of Fiskville including a train derailment, training power lines, military helicopter, flammable liquids, truck fires, and an airstrip.
Some non-fire related training equipment include Urban Search & Rescue (USAR), 4WD course, and low ropes course.
There are comprehensive theory facilities including seminar rooms, urban and rural TEWT (Tactical Exercise Without Troops) rooms, and other classroom training facilities.
Country Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority, or CFA, is the name of the fire service that provides firefighting and other emergency services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria, Australia, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne...
(CFA), which is a large, predominantly volunteer fire and emergency service which has legislative responsibility for fire and emergencies in regional Victoria (Australia)
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The college is located near Ballan
Ballan, Victoria
Ballan is a small town in the state of Victoria, Australia located on the Werribee River north west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Ballan had a population of 1,807.It is the main administrative centre for the Shire of Moorabool Local Government Area....
.
CFA Fiskville is used by CFA volunteers and staff for general training (both theory and practical), but has many other uses, including:
- Live-in training for CFA career firefighters
- Fire training for corporate clients
- Some training with Metropolitan Fire BrigadeMetropolitan Fire Brigade (Melbourne)The Metropolitan Fire Brigade , also known as the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, provides firefighting, rescue, and hazardous material incident response services to the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
firefighters
CFA Fiskville is located on the site of the old Radio Australia
Radio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
shortwave transmitter, just south of Ballan
Ballan
-Locality:*Ballan, Victoria - A town in Australia*Ballan, India - A village in Punjab, India...
, between Ballarat and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on the Western Freeway (take the Ballan exit - it is signed 'CFA Fiskville').
The name of the property comes from Sir Ernest Fisk, the Chairman of Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited
Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited
Amalgamated Wireless Ltd . Throughout most of the 20th century AWA was Australia's largest and most prominent electronics organisation, undertaking development, manufacture and distribution of radio, telecommunications, television and audio equipment as well as broadcasting services.After the...
(AWA) when the property was owned and managed by AWA and used as a long distance radio communication station as part of the Imperial Wireless Chain
Imperial Wireless Chain
The Imperial Wireless Chain, also known as the Empire Wireless Chain, was a strategic international wireless telegraphy communications network, created to link the countries of the British Empire. Although the idea was conceived prior to World War I, Britain was the last of the world's Great Powers...
. The original California Bungalow style buildings at the front of the property are still used as accommodation for student firefighters and were originally built to house the station's technical staff and their families. The original generator building now houses the Teaching Centre while the concrete blocks used to anchor the aerials' guy wires are still visible in multiple locations around the property.
Fiskville is also an operational fire station, and runs 2- Type 3 Medium pumpers, a Type 3 Heavy pumper, and a 3.4D Tanker.
The practical training area is known as the 'Pad'. On the Pad there are several different drill areas, including:
- Plane crash, Airport Road (Search & Rescue)
- 3 large petrol storage tanks, Pyrose Parade (Gas fire, Search & Rescue)
- Large vertical refinery structure, Pyrose Parade (Gas fire, fog attack)
- Service station, Jolimont Road (Gas fire, car fire, fog attack, structural risk)
- 2 horizontal gas bullets, one vertical gas bullet, and small refinery structure, Jolimont Road (Gas fire, fog attack)
- Hospital, Jolimont Road (Structure fire, Search & Rescue)
- Single Storey Structure, normally car under carport, 7 Tower Road (Car fire, Structural risk, Search & Rescue)
- Fish & Chip Shop, back of 7 Tower Road (Flammable Liquid Fire, Structure fire, Search & Rescue)
- Flashover Room, back of 7 Tower Road (Flashover demonstration)
- Double Storey Structure, Tower Road (Structure fire, Thermal layering, Search & Rescue)
- Multiple locations for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and car fires
There are other scenarios around the grounds of Fiskville including a train derailment, training power lines, military helicopter, flammable liquids, truck fires, and an airstrip.
Some non-fire related training equipment include Urban Search & Rescue (USAR), 4WD course, and low ropes course.
There are comprehensive theory facilities including seminar rooms, urban and rural TEWT (Tactical Exercise Without Troops) rooms, and other classroom training facilities.