The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer with the official opening of an extension to Allandale Rural Fire Station, strengthening support for Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) volunteers across the Scenic Rim.
The new detached shed will provide additional storage and an engine bay for the district tanker, as well as equipment used by Allandale Rural Fire Brigade and the broader Boonah Group.
A decade of Labor neglect saw volunteer firefighter numbers drop by more than 7,000 and they left frontline emergency services without the infrastructure they needed.
The Crisafulli Government is fixing the mess and giving our volunteer firefighters the modern facilities they deserve and need to keep Queenslanders safe.
The facility will support 36 brigades and more than 1,100 volunteer firefighters across the Scenic Rim, providing additional space and improved operational capability for local volunteers.
The opening also recognised the extraordinary contribution of long-serving volunteer Graeme Klan, with the Allandale 51 Medium Attack appliance renamed in his honour.
Mr Klan has served with Allandale Rural Fire Brigade since 1973, marking 53 years of dedicated service to his community.
The Crisafulli Government is backing Queensland’s volunteer firefighters with practical investment in the facilities and infrastructure they need to protect their communities.
Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy said the station extension was an important investment in supporting the Allandale volunteers who keep Queenslanders safe.
“Volunteers like Mr Klan are the backbone of our rural fire brigades, and 53 years of service is an extraordinary contribution to the Allandale community,” Minister Leahy said.
“Our government is making Queensland safer by delivering the facilities and resources our volunteers need to continue protecting their communities, after years of infrastructure being overlooked under Labor.”
Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause said this investment is delivering for our local Rural Fire Service volunteers, who dedicate so much of their time to keeping Scenic Rim communities safe.
“Graeme Klan’s 53 years of service is an incredible achievement, and renaming the appliance in his honour is a fitting recognition of his longstanding commitment to the Allandale community,” Mr Krause said.
“This new extension will give our volunteers the additional space and facilities they need to continue protecting the communities they call home.”
RFSQ South Eastern Region A/Deputy Chief Officer Joel Gordon said the extension delivered practical benefits for volunteers.
“Facilities like this make a real difference to our volunteers because they help to create a more functional base for day-to-day brigade activities,” Deputy Chief Officer Gordon said.
“I look forward to seeing volunteers make the most of this new space as they continue the valuable work they do for their communities.”
L-R: Acting Deputy Chief Officer, South Eastern Region (SER), Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Mr Joel Gordon, State Member for Scenic Rim Mr Jon Krause , Mr Graeme Klan next to the truck named after him following his years of incredible service and Federal Member for Wright, Mr Scott Buchholz.