CFA’s mine rescue success

By Ryan Bellingham

Apr 4, 2025

A CFA team saw success at this year's Victorian Mine Rescue Competition. Photo by Supplied

A specialised CFA team saw a podium finish at the recent Victorian Mine Rescue Competition in Heathcote.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Emergency response teams from Victoria and NSW gathered for the weekend from Friday, March 28 to compete in eight realistic, high-pressure, scenario-based challenges.

The CFA’s Oscar 1 Emergency Response Mine Rescue Brigade claimed first place in the fire exercise scenario, and third place in the breathing apparatus exercise.

CFA's Oscar 1 Emergency Response Mine Rescue Brigade members at the competition. Photo by Supplied

Oscar 1 members applying a breathing apparatus during a challenge. Photo by Supplied

Unexpectedly, first lieutenant Karl Shay said his team had to put their expertise to use outside of the competition on the first night.

“On the Friday night our crew actually got a call-out to a job with a man stuck down a mine shaft, so it was a great chance to use our skills and assist them to safety,” he said.

Of the event, Mr Shay said other teams put up some tough competition, which provided valuable experience.

“It was an excellent weekend. You get six months of training in just one weekend,” he said.

The fire exercise used one of the CFA’s gas prop cars and required participants to run through the scenario of attending a large car fire.

Participants putting out a simulated car fire. Photo by Supplied

The gas prop car was supplied by the CFA. Photo by Supplied

The competition is an annual safety training event that allows teams to share knowledge in firefighting, first-aid, underground search and rescue and ropes exercises.