There are claims that the ongoing suspension of Mount Compass CFS Captain Anthony Baker is putting the community at risk and contributed to a delayed CFS response last Monday.

The Independent candidate for Finniss, Lou Nicholson, says the Mount Compass CFS was called to a fire on Burgess Road on Monday but could not readily respond.

“This is leaving the township of Mount Compass at risk this bushfire season,” she told ABC Radio Adelaide last week. “They had a fire on Monday this week that got out of control and the CFS was delayed because they couldn’t get drivers.

She says the Yundi CFS had to step in and attend the fire.

Captain Baker was suspended in September after speaking publicly about his concerns over the brigade’s new truck. The truck was too heavy to be registered to operate at full capacity. 

The CFS has since received permission from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to operate the truck but Captain Baker remains suspended.

“Anthony Baker is a driver,” Ms Nicholson says.  “He lives and works in the town. He actually responded as a neighbour to the fire and he was there while the CFS couldn’t get there.”

She said the couple in their 70s who live at the property called Anthony for support while they were waiting for the CFS. He then administered first aid to the couple who had been trying to fight the fire on their own.

Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes has also called for the CFS to resolve the issue and get Captain Baker back on duty. He says he knows Captain Baker well and that he was an, “excellent young man”.

“To be losing his services at a time at a time now when we are going into peak bushfire season with the amount of growth we’ve had; it’s really important that people sit down, sort it out and get him back on the job,” he says.

“Anthony’s area sits on the Victor Harbor Road. It’s one of the most dangerous roads in the state and these guys go out to car accidents as well.”

“They’re very well trained and we need every one of them on the job.”

“I’m amazed it has taken this long.”

Mr Parkes says if Anthony broke a rule in speaking to the media then the CFS should reprimand him, explain to him what he did wrong and then get him back on the job.

Emergency Minister Vincent Tarzia says he has been in contact with Mark Jones, the Chief Officer of the CFS, and that he understands that a resolution is “imminent”.