WA businesses recognised for supporting emergency services

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Wayne Gregson said the Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards recognise employers whose exceptional sacrifices enable their staff to leave during work hours and respond to emergencies.

“In the past 12 months emergency services volunteers responded to over 9,500 fires, 5,500 searches and rescues and 168 hazmat incidents across the State. Without volunteers our capacity to respond to these incidents would be dramatically diminished,” Commissioner Gregson said.

“In turn, volunteers rely on their employers to allow them the flexibility to respond to an incident at a moment’s notice, have adequate rest afterwards and attend training.

“Volunteers who are self-employed also bear the costs of being unable to work when attending an emergency and this has a direct impact on their business.

“It would be extremely challenging to provide emergency services to the whole State without the support of employers and I thank each of them for their valuable contribution.”

The Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards were presented across Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

One recipient of the Gold award, the Margaret River Vet Hospital allowed its Practice Manager to attend 81 incidents including deployments to the Esperance, Waroona and Pinjarra bushfires.

There are more than 28,000 fire and emergency services volunteers across WA that support Bush Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Marine Rescue Services, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services and Emergency Services Cadet Corps.

The full list of the 2016 award winners and their regions is attached. For more information about the awards visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au.

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Media Contact: DFES Media and Corporate Communications 9225 5955.

Note to journalist: Interviews and images available on request.