GENERGOUS community donations from the 2019/20 bushfires will fund more than 400 defibrillators for CFA brigades, including those at Mt Hotham/Dinner Plain and Falls Creek.

Thanks to the donations, the CFA and Brigades Donations Trust is allocating $1.04m to purchase the important life–saving equipment which improves the safety of both firefighters and community members at incidents.

The new 426 defibrillators will bring CFA’s total to more than 1700 across the state, ensuring every group vehicle has a defibrillator and every brigade has at least one vehicle with a defibrillator.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said it’s important members are prepared if a cardiac emergency occurs.

“Defibrillators save lives – it’s that simple,” he said.

“We have seen our members use them in some emergency situations recently and the early intervention has saved their lives.

“Donations from the community have made these additional defibrillators possible, and we are so grateful and humbled by their support.”

The rollout of the 426 defibrillators is expected to be complete in early July.