Dave's Saltmine Page

Last Updated 28th December, 2002.

I am a professional full-time Fire-Fighter with the Rank of Station Officer, employed in the Brisbane Region of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

I started my career in firefighting in 1972 when, at the age of 22 years, I joined the then Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Brisbane M.F.B.). In 1990, all the Fire Brigades in Queensland amalgamated to become the Queensland Fire Service (QFS) and, in 1997, the name again changed to the current Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority (QFRA).

I am currently stationed at the Oxley Fire Station which covers Brisbane's southern suburbs of Oxley, Darra, Wacol, Ellengrove, Richlands, Forestlake, Doolandella, Inala, Durack and parts of Rocklea, Corinda, Carole Park and Pallara. These suburbs are on the south-western edge of the Greater Brisbane Area

Station Staff is 1 Station Officer and 3 Firefighters on each of 4 Platoons, (A, B, C & D Shifts).

Staff work on a 10/14 Roster which is 2 x 10 hour dayshifts followed by 2 x 14 hour nightshifts recurring on an 8-day cycle.

The Fire Appliance stationed at Oxley is a "FIREPAC 3000 Mk.2" built by the Austral Company in Brisbane. It is powered by a Caterpillar diesel engine with an Allison automatic gearbox and fitted with a Rosenbauer fire pump. It is a composite Pump/Rescue Appliance.

Rescue Equipment includes Holmatro Jaws, Holmatro Cutting Tool, Holmatro Rams and 18-Tonne Vetter Air-Bags.

The photographs below are of the Fire Appliance at Oxley station.