Brigade History

A public meeting was convened in the public hall (now the theatre plaza) on January 20^th 1944 regarding the necessity of forming a fire brigade to serve the Portarlington community. Chief officer Mr McPherson attended the initial meeting and gave an outline on the workings of the Country Fire Brigades and how the brigade was to be run.

The election of first office bearers were :

Captain - J.F. Richmond
Lieutenant - W.J. Ross
Foreman - J.F. Gane
Secretary - P.J. Rogers

At a later meeting on September 19^th 1944 the Chief Officer again attended the brigades meeting to issue equipment and give instructions on the way in which it was to be used. He also provided the brigade with a Carter Chief Trailer Pump which required special training in its operation.
On December 1944 the community's first ever official fire bell was erected at the site now occupied by the pre-school opposite the main street. The bell was used to alert members of the brigade and the community that there was an incident occurring in the town.

In 1945 representation was made to the CFA Board to lease a disused shop in Newcombe street (Now Opsy's takeaway) for the brigade to operate out of. This was approved and used until 1950 when a cement sheet shed was erected on the stations present site. The cement sheet shed was torn down in 1959 and replaced with the station that currently occupies the site.

On the 2nd of July 1955 the brigade received from the CFA its first truck which was a Dodge Pumper this served the brigade until 1958.

The brigade is currently undertaking extensive reseach into the brigades history. If you have any stories, pictures, or info on the brigade please contact the brigade through one of the contact numbers provided in the About Us area as we would love to hear your stories.