Pile burn assist
Recently Galston RFB was asked to assist Arcadia RFB with a large pile burn in the local area. This was an example of a pile burn done right. It was a great collaboration between the two brigades and served as a valuable training exercise for some of the newer recruits.
Pile burns are helpful for property maintenance and to reduce bush fire fuels ahead of the official fire season in October. However, permits for pile burns are required all year-round. Please make sure you contact your appropriate council for advice on a permit. NSW RFS Fire Control and your neighbours must also be notified, and piles must adhere to the approved standards.
Also be aware that during the fire season (usually October – March) you will also be required to obtain a fire safety permit from the NSW RFS.
Preventable fire warning
There are hundreds of preventable fires in Sydney each year that originate in the kitchen. Across NSW, kitchen fires were the largest single cause of house fires last year, representing 45 per cent of all residential fires and 34 per cent of injuries. It can take just three minutes for a fire to take hold, but seconds to prevent one.
To avoid kitchen fire tragedies, we’re urging people to ‘keep looking when cooking’:
• Never leave cooking unattended
• Don’t put anything metallic in the microwave
• Keep fabrics and tea towels away from the stove
• Don’t use LPG cylinders for cooking indoors
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm.
Galston member profile
Each month this year the Galston Rural Fire Brigade will feature a short interview with one of our members. It is a great way to discover just how diverse your local fire brigade can be.
August member profile:
Greg Langdon
How long have you been a part of the Galston Rural Fire Brigade?
13 Years
What is your role there?
Deputy Captain, currently looking after Membership Services and New Member Induction
When you’re not at the brigade, what do you do for a living?
Control Centre Officer for NSW Ambulance
What made you join the RFS?
Both my parents were heavily involved in the brigade so I grew up around it. When I was old enough I followed their lead and never looked back.
Have you learnt skills in the RFS that you’ve used elsewhere?
The RFS gives you unique opportunities around Incident Management and coordination which drove me towards my current career
What makes the RFS family so unique?
The common passion for serving the community. Regardless of each person’s background, skills or interests, we are all there for the same reason.
What is a fond memory you have of your time at the brigade?
Too many to mention! Probably the one that sticks out the most is the Maroota fires in 2006. We were tasked to protect a property on the top of a ridge as the fire was running towards the house. This was my first experience at front line firefighting at a major fire and was the most daunting yet enthralling experience I have had in the service.
How is being in the RFS rewarding?
The biggest reward is definitely the experiences you have and the friendships you build. I have had the pleasure of meeting some incredible people and working with them in some amazing and sometimes challenging situations that you would not come across anywhere else.
