History of Our Brigade:
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The Athelstone CFS was started in 1961 when the area was still considered a country town. The fire station was opened in 1962, named the Athelstone Unit of the City of Campbelltown EFS (Emergency Fire Service). Twenty years later, the urban sprawl had caught up with the town of Athelstone and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service took primary responsibility for the urban area. However, the Athelstone volunteers decided there was still a need for a CFS Brigade with the Adelaide Hills so close and they chose to keep the Brigade going.
On the 15 February 1979, Athelstone CFS had its saddest moment. Barry McLoughlin was killed when an appliance he was travelling in, rolled over on the way to an incident. |
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In 1987, Athelstone became one of the first State Support Brigades. These brigades were equipped to be available to respond anywhere in the state or provide specialist services in their area.
In 1994, and again in 2001, the Brigade sent appliances and crew to fight the battle against bushfires in NSW. In 1997, the Brigade sent members to fires in Indonesia to conduct aerial water bombing operations as well as having control/command functions. Just before Christmas 1999, Athelstone was involved in an industrial fire at Olympic Dam with eight other CFS crews, the MFS and emergency crews operated by the mining company. It took over eight hours to contain and used 18,000 litres of foam. |
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In the year 2000, Athelstone took delivery of a new 24P appliance, which was equipped with both road crash rescue and hazardous materials equipment. In November 2005 a new 34P appliance was delivered to Athelstone CFS. This allowed the specialist equipment carried by Athelstone to be stowed on separate appliances. Athelstone 34P became a combination fire and road crash rescue appliance leaving 24P to become a dedicated fire and HAZMAT appliance. The brigade now had greater flexibility to respond to concurrent fire or road crash or HAZMAT incidents . |
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In 2009 the Brigade sent crew members as part of the South Australian contingency that went to fight the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria.
During the 2009-10 fire season, Athelstone CFS welcomed a new addition to its fleet, the HSV or Helitak Support Vehicle which has provided Athelstone with the capability to provide specialist Statewide support to aerial firefighting helicopters, including the Erickson Aircrane.
During the 2009-10 fire season, Athelstone CFS welcomed a new addition to its fleet, the HSV or Helitak Support Vehicle which has provided Athelstone with the capability to provide specialist Statewide support to aerial firefighting helicopters, including the Erickson Aircrane.
Athelstone celebrates 50 years
On Sunday 30 October 2011, Athelstone CFS held a commemorative event to celebrate the Brigade’s 50th anniversary. Held at the Athelstone CFS Fire Station, the anniversary event was enjoyed by over 200 former and current members, their families and friends of the Brigade.
A highlight of the event was the attendance of five original members of the Brigade who were there when the Brigade was formed in 1961.
A highlight of the event was the attendance of five original members of the Brigade who were there when the Brigade was formed in 1961.
In August 2012, Athelstone 24P was replaced with a new appliance Athelstone A34P. A34P was setup as a combination fire and road crash rescue appliance while 34P became a combination fire and HAZMAT appliance.
In late 2018, Athelstone A34P was replaced with a new appliance, Athelstone Pumper. With a 4,000L/minute pump and many clever design features, Athelstone Pumper enhanced the Brigade's structural firefighting capability as well as being one of the first appliances in the State to carry battery operated road crash rescue equipment.
February 2019 saw Athelstone Tanker reborn as State Aviation BW6 on a refurbished cab-chassis. This appliance has a primary focus of supporting aerial firefighting but also serves as a bulk water carrier as required.
In late 2018, Athelstone A34P was replaced with a new appliance, Athelstone Pumper. With a 4,000L/minute pump and many clever design features, Athelstone Pumper enhanced the Brigade's structural firefighting capability as well as being one of the first appliances in the State to carry battery operated road crash rescue equipment.
February 2019 saw Athelstone Tanker reborn as State Aviation BW6 on a refurbished cab-chassis. This appliance has a primary focus of supporting aerial firefighting but also serves as a bulk water carrier as required.
