Pilbara volunteers take home four wins from WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards

The Pilbara was well represented at the 2024 Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Awards with four rescuers from the outback region taking home the win. The awards were presented at a gala dinner in Perth on September 7 recognising excellence in firefighting, emergency management, marine rescue and the State Emergency Service. Marine Rescue Dampier volunteer Cameron Bell received the Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award for helping save four people who were clinging to an upturned vessel at Delambre Island near Karratha in pitch darkness. Tom Price SES volunteer Jack Watson was handed the State Emergency Service Youth Achievement Award for responding to numerous prolonged incidents at Karijini National Park. Marble Bar Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Captain Jessica Jenkins received the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Individual Achievement Award for going above and beyond to improve the station and vehicles, replace equipment and come up with new training scenarios and opportunities. Department of Fire and Emergency Services marine district officer Bec Benson received the DFES Operational Individual Achievement Award for her tireless efforts training the next generation of emergency services workers in the Pilbara and Kimberley. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said he was incredibly proud of first responders in northern WA given the extreme conditions they have faced in the past few years. “Communities in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Mid West Gascoyne are very fortunate to have such a dedicated contingent of emergency services personnel responding to disasters at a moment’s notice – often travelling huge distances to help people in distress,” he said.