Bundamba firefighters on standby as Ipswich community celebrates Christmas

While work winds down for many Ipswich residents in the lead-up to Christmas, six dedicated firefighters are preparing for a big weekend keeping their community safe.

As most Ipswich residents kick back, open presents, and enjoy the company of friends and family this Christmas, a team of unsung heroes will go to work as if it were any other day.

Bundamba Fire and Rescue Station’s D shift crew – including firefighters Aaron Cornish, Jamie Walker, Marty Cameron, Ian Vaccaneo and station officer Darren Martin – will spend Christmas and Boxing Day responding to emergency calls made across the region.

Each of the men have worked many a holiday over the years, some more than a dozen Christmases each, yet none complained about having to forgo a normal celebration this weekend.

“This is my family,” Aaron, an Ipswich firefighter for six years, said.

Those with young children will spend at least part of Christmas Day with their family at the station, enjoying each other’s company in between calls.

“We normally have a joint Christmas meal together,” Darren said.

“Sometimes we get to eat and sometimes it’s broken up by a few jobs.”

The firefighters said their families had grown to accept that their careers required compromise, but they never took their support for granted.

On an ordinary week, the Fire and Rescue Service crew will work for 48 hours over four days – comprising 10-hour days and 14-hour nights.

Marty, a firefighter for five years and a father of young kids, said his family will be visiting him and his crew at the station this weekend.

“My kids have been here the last four years,” he said.

“My oldest is pretty familiar with the fire station now.”

Unfortunately, emergencies tend to increase in frequency over the holiday season as an unusually high number of people hit the roads to attend gatherings.

House fires are also fairly common this time of year, sparked by lights on Christmas trees that have not been checked and barbecues left unattended.

“In 2019, it was bushfires we were fighting,” Darren said.

“Whereas we’ve just gone through a wet season and it’s not over yet.”

Ian said firefighters at their station, being a rescue station, also carry out a large number of flooding rescues over the holiday period.

Darren reminded Ipswich residents to take their time travelling this weekend and rest when necessary.

“Don’t drive more than two hours,” he said.

“Take a break. Don’t let fatigue cause an accident.”

Though each D shift firefighter would undoubtedly rather spend their Christmas with their family, they said they were grateful to have a job they loved that offered a raft of new experiences.

Darren said camaraderie and opportunity to serve his community is what kept him motivated and committed to being a firefighter for the last three decades.

The team wished Ipswich residents a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.