News Story
Members joined a major emergency services alert this evening after 5 workers were reported missing in the 9.2km Vector power cable tunnel. Initial reports advised that the men below had not been heard from in several hours and the search and rescue operation was mounted. Police, Fire and Ambulance personnel gathered at the tunnel entrance in Newmarket, a shaft some 57 meters deep, setting up a command point on the surface there. Other firefighters went to 2 city portals. But operations were called off around 11pm when all those working below were accounted for. Our members assisted with scene safety, command and breathing apparatus units and refreshments at Nuffield Street and scene safety at the city locations. The tunnel contains power cables linking Hobson Street sub-station in the city with the national grid at Penrose and has, since its completion in 2000, been the scene of several search and rescue exercises by the Fire Service.
