NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone operations officer Brett Bowden prepares a truck for the open day. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0730fireday1
A RURAL Fire Service (RFS) open day wouldn’t be complete without fire simulators, hoses, pumps, fire safety plans and, of course, big trucks.
The Canobolas Zone Rural Fire Service open day has got it all. Come along to the base on Forrest Road between 10am and 2pm on Sunday to see what being a rural firefighter is all about.
Canobolas Zone operations officer Brett Bowden said the open day was held in conjunction with Frost Fest. He said with the fire season right around the corner it was a good time to get people thinking about fire safety plans.
“Everybody who lives in a rural zone should have a fire safety plan,” he said.
“That means people need to know exactly what to do and when.”
Mr Bowden said firefighters were on their toes as this fire season could be the worst since the 1970s.
“It’s gearing up to be a big season,” he said.
“We’re not nervous but it is important to be prepared and it’s important we make sure that everyone else is prepared too.”
Mr Bowden said there would be three areas of interest for curious residents.
“We’ll have all the different categories of trucks out for people to have a look at and to climb through,” he said.
“We’ll also have our support equipment like the tilt tray and the portable water pumps.
“We’ll have a fire simulator with real firefighters out on the ground and people in the communications rooms conducting a fire situation.
“We’ll also be running fire safety plans which is really important.”
Mr Bowden said the day was designed to give people an idea of what the rural fire service is about in the hope they might recruit members.
“Hopefully we’ll get some interest from some people,” he said.