If you thought Footscray Fire Station was on the path to repair - then think again.

After moving into the new station yesterday after two years at the temporary location, Footscray Firefighters were of high hopes. With a relocation allowance secured and the Australian Industrial Relations Commission watching over  the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) management’s shoulder, things were looking not so bad.

Gate failure
As the day drew to a close and members prepared for the first night in the new Station, word began to spread of a mishap at the station's entry. Full details have not yet emerged, but the United Firefighters Union (UFU) imagines there was likely a large clunk sound, followed by Firefighters peering over the mess balcony, scratching their heads - probably to the sound of crickets.

The entry gate was broken. After months of trying to convince Management that the Station is not ready, station staff finally moved in, only to find that not only is the station not ready, but it is beginning to fall apart.

Presumably it was too late to have it fixed, so a security guard was called in to protect the Station. Whilst members were relieved that the security guard was present, they were still particularly unnerved, wondering what would go next.

Hot water
"Oh well," they thought, "maybe some mopping up will distract us." So, they headed straight for the hot water tap to fill up a bucket of mopping water. "Hang on," they said, "where is the hot water tap?"

So they searched the Station high and low for a hot water tap to fill up the mop bucket.
There was none on the third floor. There was none on the second floor. The balconies had plenty of water pooled in the drains, but there was no hot water tap. Finally though, they found one on the ground floor.

The UFU has raised the potential hazard of having a three level building, with a narrow and steep stair well for turning out, on numerous occasions. Now, to find that buckets for mopping will have to be carried up and down the same stairwell, the UFU is severely dismayed.

It’s time for MFB Management to explain what went wrong at the Footscray Station. Security Guards and sticky floors are not good enough Mr. Latta, this is not a Nightclub, it’s a Fire Station.

If you have queries please contact Peter Marshall, Branch Secretary on 0419 127 004.