Kids pitch in to help out

Training facilities at Dampier Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service have been upgraded after they were severely damaged by tropical cyclone Damien early this year.

The brigade’s headquarters were damaged by the cyclone which brought heavy wind and rain to the Pilbara in February.

DVFRS secretary Adam Bell said when the cyclone hit, the roof of the training facility was “peeled off like a sardine can”.

“It copped the full brunt, the walls were intact but the the windows were smashed, the roof was gone, and everything inside was saturated,” he said.

Mr Bell said the room had an office set up in there, along with internet servers and a training facility where meetings and desktop training took place.

“We’ve been upgraded with all new air-conditioning, new internet and network cabling through the walls. And we’ve got a brand new switchboard,” he said.

Mr Bell said there was also community support in the aftermath of the cyclone to help repair the station.

He said children in Dampier heard about the damage and decided to raise money to help with the repairs.

“It was really heartwarming to hear ... the kids saw fallen fruit trees and made juice to raise money for emergency services,” he said.

“They heard through social media that we had lost the office wing of our brigade, and they decided to give the money they raised to us.”