by Bonnie Collings
Local CFA brigades are at risk of losing significant income after a recent review into Baw Baw Shire council's essential safety measures (ESM) contracts.
Currently, fire equipment at council owned and operated sites are serviced by local volunteer CFA brigades every six months as part of the fire equipment maintenance (FEM) program.
Following a review into the shire's ESM contracts and a competitive commercial tender process, essential safety measures contracts were awarded to four contractors, not including local CFA brigades.

Drouin West CFA captain Brendan Witt said losing fire equipment mainte