Eaton-Australind Volunteer Fire and Rescue brigade praises Kemerton Industrial businesses for their help

Last year’s blaze tore through more than 70,000 hectares of land, claiming the lives of two people and almost wiping Yarloop off the map, taking 181 properties with it.

Major industrial companies Coogee Chemicals, Cristal, Simcoa and BOC banded together following the fire in January last year to provide a total of $40,000 to be split among the professional and volunteer brigades and local State Emergency Services teams in their district, as well as the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund.

Coogee Chemicals’ Kemerton plant manager Karen Bailey said she is still full of praise for the efforts put in by these responders, particularly the volunteers.

“There is no doubting that without the heroic efforts of these crews, the possibility of additional loss during that devastating fire was very real,” she said.

“Speaking for all the companies, we are immensely grateful they were able to halt the fire where they did, sparing additional trauma to our businesses and to our local communities where many of us live.”

Eaton-Australind brigade captain Richard Constantine said he and his volunteers wanted to recognise not only the financial contribution and in-kind support these industries made, but also the flexibility the businesses showed to their employees, who are members of the brigade.

“We have a great crew of volunteers at Eaton-Australind and the support these four businesses provide us help ensure our readiness to respond to all manner of emergency response needs within our local communities,” said Mr Constantine.

Mr Constantine presented representatives from the four businesses with plaques that honour their support of the Eaton-Australind Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.