BY PETER HYSLOP
The State's Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) is calling for better coverage of the Port Stephens region including a station at Medowie, following a tragic house fire.
On Sunday, 62-year-old Russell Magrath died after he couldn't be saved from his home, which was well alight by the time crews arrived.
State Secretary Leighton Drury has told 2NURFM minutes are precious in crew responses, but calls directed at the State Government for a station have fallen on deaf ears.
"We've been calling for extra resources for the Medowie area for a number of years now," he said.
"Medowie has over 10,000 people, thousands of dwellings, and certainly extra resources are critical in times like this.
"Unfortunately it's crickets from the Minister. They need to fund the services that will keep people safe," he said.
