Over $5000 worth of fuel and equipment has been stolen from a Rural Fire Service station over the weekend.
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On Friday night or Saturday morning, thieves broke into two single-bay Spring Glen fire station in Ophir and stole a large amount of fuel as well as chainsaws, axes and a cooler fridge as well as other miscellaneous items.
Clifton Grove/Ophir brigade senior deputy Glen Foley-Gallagher said he and fellow volunteers were troubled by the theft.
"It's very disappointing to think they steal from volunteer organisations, brigades raise a lot of funds themselves to put gear on the trucks as well so it's very disappointing," he said.
MAP: Where the theft occurred ...
It was the second station hit that night, with another station in Freemantle - which is part of the Chifley area command of the RFS - also broken into.
Mr Foley-Gallagher said he didn't know the specifics of what was taken from that station, but said "looking at the two in one night" it was a possibility RFS stations were being targeted,
He also said it would have an impact on the brigade's firefighting capabilities.
"I am concerned with what's been stolen," he said.
Not only does it affect this brigade but it also affects other brigades who miss out on equipment because the money we spend replacing stolen goods is money not spent on upgrades.
- RFS Canobolas Zone operations manager Brett Bowden
"The main effect for us as a rural fire brigade include affecting our operational capabilities and what we can do when we attend a fire."
It was a sentiment echoed by RFS Canobolas Zone operations manager Brett Bowden, who said the thieves knew exactly what they wanted from the two sheds at the station.
"In the event of a fire and the brigade's access is blocked by fallen timber, they'll have to find another point of entry so it will increase our response times," he said.
"Not only does it affect this brigade but it also affects other brigades who miss out on equipment because the money we spend replacing stolen goods is money not spent on upgrades."
Mr Bowden said police forensics attended the scene on Sunday to check for fingerprints on the trucks as everything stolen was taken from the two trucks on site.
While the equipment will be replaced, it's expected to take "some weeks".
"We're all volunteer run and all the equipment is purchased with money raised through fundraising efforts and activities the brigades perform," he said.
He said the Canobolas Zone would look at installing extra security at fire stations which don't have adequate security systems and deterrents including CCTV, alarms and cameras.
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