27,000 strong: QLD salutes Rural Fire Service volunteers

More than 27,000 volunteers across over 1400 brigades in the state are being celebrated this week as part of Rural Fire Service Queensland Week.

Owen Henshall and Zac Holland from the Purono Rural Fire Brigade.

More than 27,000 volunteers serving across over 1400 brigades in the state are being celebrated this week as part of Rural Fire Service Queensland Week.

The Purono Rural Fire Brigade Yabulu has about 15 volunteers who are ready to jump into action when bushfires flare up.

First Officer Zac Holland has been a part of the brigade since 2020 and said they hold monthly training exercises and that they were “one big fire family”.

Purono Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Zac Holland and Owen Henshall.

“We are very community based and it’s always good to have extra hands on board,” he said.

“You don’t have to be an operational firefighter, you can be a support member.”

With many volunteers also working in the mines and in other industries, Mr Holland said it’s a great way to serve the community.

“It’s a good work/life balance. Many of us have regular nine to five jobs and then volunteer when we can,” he said.

Mr Holland said during bushfire season, which normally begins in late July and runs until around November, the brigade could be called out to help at least once a week.

Purono Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Zac Holland

Operational firefighting training includes how to fight and mitigate a fire by using equipment, as well as chainsaw courses and incident management courses.

Mr Holland said he was deployed to Ingham earlier in the year to assist during the floods and also helped out in the 2019 floods.

Purono Rural Fire Brigade First Officer Zac Holland

He also assisted in the Black Summer 2019 and 2020 bushfires in NSW.

As part of RFSQ Week he encouraged anyone wanting to volunteer to express their interest.

“It’s a good way to meet people, a good way to help the community, it’s a good thing to do,” he said.

For more information visit fire.qld.gov.au

Originally published as 27,000 strong: QLD salutes Rural Fire Service volunteers