Former firefighter Don Jewell (right) recounted to Orange MP, Phil Donato the events of the 1983 Mobil Depot fuel fire he and his fellow firefighters extinguished.
State Member for Orange Philip Donato MP hosted an award ceremony at the Cooke Park Pavilion in Parkes on Tuesday 3rd December 2024, to recognise 10 brave local firemen for placing their lives in peril to save their town from a catastrophic fire in 1983.
“It is a true honour and a privilege to personally recognise ten local heroes, who pulled off an almost impossible feat and saved their town from certain catastrophe,” said Mr Donato.
Before a gathering of invited guests and dignitaries, Mr Donato personally presented to each of the five living firefighters, and families of the five deceased firefighters, Statements of Appreciation signed and issued by Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM.
“On the 23 rd of May 1983, a rail tanker carriage loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol, which was being decanted into storage tanks at the Mobil fuel depot in East Street Parkes, ignited.
“Ten members of the Parkes Fire Brigade rapidly responded to the fire, finding the fuel-laden rail tanker completely engulfed in flames which threatened to ignite adjacent fuel tanks that held millions of litres of fuel,” Mr Donato said.
The ten brave firefighters: Captain Gordon Northey, now deceased; Engine keeper Rodney Bradley, now deceased; Firefighter Robert Tinker; Firefighter Graham Dixon; Firefighter Roger Larsen; Firefighter Graham Thompson; Firefighter Robert McDonald, now deceased; Firefighter Don Jewell; Firefighter Bruce Shanks, now deceased; and Firefighter John Ashcroft, now deceased.
“The fire and potential explosion threatened not only the lives of the responding firefighters, who fought to control and extinguish the fire, but also the lives of Parkes residents. The firefighters placed their own lives at risk to fight this fire, each believing they would not survive it.
“It was a miracle that the tanker and adjacent fuel depot did not explode; These courageous men put their own lives on the line to save peoples’ lives and property, and they managed to succeed in defeating the fire and averting explosive disaster.
“It is regrettable that it has taken over forty years for these brave firefighters to be appropriately recognised. “It is regrettable that those courageous firefighters who are now deceased were not recognised during their lifetime, and although this late recognition provides them no solace, perhaps it does, for their families, fellow fire fighters and the community.
“On behalf of the Parkes community, I extend enduring gratitude to these men, and their families, not only for their bravery and courageous actions which saved the town, but also for the many years of dedicated service to the community,” Mr Donato said.
A rock monument bearing a plaque was installed at Parkes’ new fire station to recognise the dedication of the firefighters who extinguished the 1983 Mobil Depot fuel fire.