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THE next time a natural disaster hits Queensland, the Greenbank rural firefighters could well be on the front line playing a crucial role in the coordination of the State’s response.

The brigade is currently working through plans to move from Ison Road to a new site near Greenbank Community Centre on Teviot Road in a bid to better serve the area’s growing urban population.

Under the plan, the brigade will not only get a new headquarters but in a Queensland first its existing facility would be transformed into a fire services base camp and storage facility.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) regional manager rural operations south-east Queensland Peter Varley said the Greenbank base camp would aid brigades across the State.

He said Greenbank Rural Fire Brigade members would manage the base camp and trained members would deploy to wherever they were needed in the region, state or even interstate to set up the facilities.

The site would also be used to store, maintain and test equipment used to set up staging areas and temporary accommodation for fire crews on deployment to major incidents.

“It will be the first time a rural fire brigade has taken on this type of responsibility,” he said.

“The Greenbank Rural Fire Brigade is a valuable asset so we need to look at what else they can do apart from going to vegetation fires.

“The base camp idea has always been there and giving it to a rural fire brigade gives them another function.

“It will not only be beneficial to them and their area but will also be beneficial to the whole state.”

Greenbank Rural Fire Brigade first officer Fabian Stangherlin (pictured above left with secretary Matthew Hilder) said the brigade’s move to Teviot Road and the volunteers expanding roles would have many benefits for the community.

“Over time this area has grown and the centre of Greenbank now includes Teviot Downs,” he said.

“By being situated in the middle where people see us (fire brigade) and know we exist is important.

“The volunteers have always had a special function and when we gave up the role of using breathing apparatus we looked for something extra because we were used to doing a little bit more than what normal rural fire brigades do.

“We are keen to expand our role as it will mean an extra skill which will benefit a lot of people.”

Mr Stangherlin said the Greenbank Rural Fire Brigade would continue to have an important part to play in the area for years to come.

“We just don’t go to bush fires anymore, we go to everything,” he said.

“We went out to Withcott, Grantham, Gatton and all round those areas helping with the clean up after the floods this year.

“Our core business is bush fires but there are so many things that we can do.”

Logan City Council has set aside $120,000 in its 2011/12 Budget for the relocation of the fire station and a decision on a lease agreement is expected to be finalised next month.