Rural Fire Services within Tamworth Regional Area
Tamworth Regional Council is a partner with the New South Wales Government’s Rural Fire Service RFS in supporting local fire service brigades within the region. The focus of both the RFS and Council is to maintain community safety. For your information, please refer to the NSW Rural Fire Service Total Fire Ban Rules.
The most critical aspect for the success of the brigades is the role played by volunteers. Volunteers provide the resource to undertake virtually all the “on ground” fire fighting during bushfires.
There are several critical areas that the RFS focuses on to assist with community safety:
- bushfire strategic planning
- hazard reduction activities
- community education
- brigade support and training
- equipment maintenance
Remember all fires should be reported to 000.
Bushfire Strategic Planning
Fulltime professional RFS staff is headquartered in Tamworth. One of their key roles is to strategically manage the risks associated with bushfire. The focus of such strategies includes:
- constructing and maintaining fire trails
- co-ordination and management of Brigades in carrying out controlled hazard reduction burns
- review developments in bushfire prone areas to reduce risk
Education
Extensive education material is available from the RFS for property owners to assist in making decisions about dealing with and minimising impacts from fires.
For more information please visit the following pages:
Brigade Support and Training
Effective training for volunteers is essential to ensure both the volunteers safety as well as the people they are trying to protect. Volunteers undertake a wide range of training which may include:
- fire fighting techniques
- driver training for rough and treacherous terrain
- first aid
- chainsaw and pump use
Training is co-ordinated by the professional RFS staff based in Tamworth and is often delivered by highly trained / specialist volunteers.
Equipment Maintenance
It is critical for the safety of all parties that fire fighting equipment is maintained. Routine and ongoing maintenance of vehicles, pumps and equipment is co-ordinated through the RFS headquarters in Tamworth.
Volunteering
Thinking of becoming a volunteer?
New faces are always welcome. If you want to find out more about becoming a volunteer you can look at the Rural Fire Service website or phone the Tamworth RFS headquarters on (02) 6762 7641 who can then put you in contact with your local brigade.