MFB firefighter Joffa van Ek is only a week into a stint with Sunbury CFA, but he’s already benefiting from his secondment.
Mr van Ek, a nine-year veteran normally based in Sunshine, will spend a year with his outer metropolitan counterparts, sharing skills and information about procedures and equipment.
The firefighter swap between the MFB and CFA is part of a broader effort to share knowledge and co-operation between the emergency organisations.
‘‘One thing I’ve found really enjoyable being in an outer metro station, is working with the volunteer component,’’ Mr van Ek said.
‘‘Wherever you go, the career firefighters tend to be pretty similar, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn things off each other.’’
Twelve members from each organisation are taking part in the secondment program, with city firefighters dispatched as far as Warrnambool and Mildura.
Mr van Ek said he was looking forward to gaining more hands-on experience with bushfires over summer.
‘‘Since Black Saturday, and particularly the last three years, MFB has been increasing its involvement in outer areas,’’ he said. ‘‘It makes a lot of sense. We frequently respond together in some of the outer metro areas, so this is a good way to ensure we can work as one.’’
Sunbury station officer Tony Smith said CFA firefighters would benefit from Mr van Ek’s knowledge of house and structure fires.
‘‘It’s great to have that exchange with someone with his experience in the MFB,’’ he said.
‘‘Obviously, they tend to do a lot more urban firefighting than we do. This program is a good way to identify differences between the organisations and show ways that we can make both of them better.’’
Firefighters are given the option of staying at their new station at the end of their secondment.
