Kelli, Christine, Elijah and Cooper Williams, with
Deputy Captain (and Councillor) Don Watson at the Open Day

Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade was one of the fire stations around the state that participated in the Get Ready Weekend to prepare for the fire season that is already upon us.

The shocking start in northern NSW and Queensland is a grim reminder of what could be in store.

“The RFS is saying the worst fires this year will be east of the Divide,” says Gerringong’s Deputy Captain, Don Watson.

The last big fire on the upper South Coast was in 1967.

The hotspots for future fires, due to their dry forests, are Foxground, Seven Mile Beach National Park, Jamberoo Mountain and Barren Grounds

The Gerringong Brigade has 40 members, but is always on the lookout for more. There are a wide variety of roles to suit all comers, who want to make a contribution to their community.

As the only emergency service crew in Gerringong, the team of volunteers gets called to a wide variety of incidents before other emergency services, such as the SES, can attend.

In the last year they have attended 160 callouts, only 20 per cent of which were fires while half were for automatic fire alarms installed in apartment-style buildings.

Like your local Rural Fire Brigade on facebook or download the Fires Near Me app to be fully informed.

And pop down to your local Brigade if you are interested in becoming a member.