Members of the Werribee Fire Brigade have urged people to drive safely. 88088 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By XAVIER SMERDON
THE Werribee Fire Brigade has witnessed an unprecedented rise in serious road accidents, attending almost as many car crashes as fires for the first time.
First Lieutenant and Werribee Fire Brigade Member for 50 years, Darryl Wells, told Star that over the last three months he and his fellow firefighters have attended 57 fires and 54 accidents.
“We’re almost doing as many accidents as we are fire calls,” First Lt Wells said.
“This is a spike definitely. It’s so frustrating that people don’t listen to the safety messages that we keep on putting out there.”
Werribee Captain Michael Wells said that it was “unheard of” in Wyndham for the fire brigade to be dealing with almost as many accidents as fires.
“We have one of the best road rescue teams in the world but the problem is that they are so good because they get too much practice,” Capt Wells said.
“I’ll be happy if I never have to go to another accident again.”
Captain Wells urged Wyndham residents to think about the consequences before they take risks while driving.
Firefighter Scott Green said attending accidents had a massive impact on the crews that attend them.
“There’s an emotional impact. After you’ve been to a job every time you drive past that intersection it takes you back there again,” Mr Green said.
“It’s still going to linger with you for weeks or months or years later.”
Every member of the Werribee Fire Brigade present last week said they could still remember the first road accident they attended.
