Young captain a winner

A 21-year-old Carnarvon fire brigade captain is celebrating after scooping one of the top honours at yesterday's 2010 firefighting awards.

Sean Rose said he was proud to win the youth achievement award. "I have a very good brigade, they work with me very well and are very understanding of my age," Mr Rose said. "The initial call to say I had been nominated blew me out of the water and then to come down here is quite amazing. You just do not expect these things to happen."

Mr Rose has been a volunteer firefighter for five years and his nomination came from a crew member.

Other awards given by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority went to Les Holden, 49, of Kingsley, who took out the career Fire and Rescue Service of WA award.

Jeffrey Drage, 47, of Mt Barker, has been a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and won the volunteer fire and rescue service award. The Murray Lang bush fire service award went to Brian May, 62, of the South Coast brigade, near Albany, for more than 30 years service.