For more than three years, CFA volunteers Brian Russell, Bill Ermacora and Brian Walker have worked out of a small equipment shed at Warrnambool Airport.

The facility, about the size of an average garden shed, contains fire retardant chemicals and other equipment used for aerial firefighting.

The volunteers generally work from the shed on days of extreme heat but the site is not airconditioned. The corrugated iron shed is also used for storage.

CFA region five air observer co-ordinator Adrienne Anson said the shed, tucked away next to an airport hangar, was inadequate for the work the group performed.

“Anyone who visits the shed can see that there’s not much room to move — it’s about the size of an ordinary garden shed,” Mrs Anson said.

“Without official brigade recognition, it’s hard to acquire the funding needed to have the proper facilities. 

“Due to the nature of the work, you’re working on days of extreme heat and the group has to rely on Warrnambool Airport to work in an airconditioned area.”

Labor candidates Jacinta Ermacora and Roy Reekie said state government cutbacks to fire services had resulted in south-west firefighters working in unacceptable conditions.

“Denis Napthine has made cutback after cutback to firefighting in the south-west and this is another example where the state government have failed to invest ahead of summer,” Mr Reekie, who is the ALP South West Coast candidate, said.

The office of Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells declined to comment on the issue, referring the matter to the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

“At the moment, there is a strategic planning process under way for all firefighting aviation facilities in the state,” CFA operations manager Richard Bourke said.

“CFA will wait to review options for the storage facility at Warrnambool Airport until this process has been finalised.”