Red hot need for firey recruits in drought-stricken towns
Northern NSW communities devastated by drought are battling a chronic shortage of firefighters ahead of what is expected to be a dangerous bushfire season.
NSW
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Communities already devastated by drought now face a shortage of on-call firefighters amid a dangerous bushfire season.
Across northern NSW, where recent fires have killed two people and destroyed dozens of homes, retained firefighters — paid part-time personnel who are called up for duty as needed — make up about 80 per cent of station staff.
But more retained firefighters are needed and the drought, which has heightened the bushfire threat, is making recruitment difficult.
Fire and Rescue NSW acting inspector Gary McKinnon said many people were too busy just trying to keep their farms going to have time to work part-time as a firefighter.
“The drought has made it tricky for some people. If they were not impacted by it they could apply more time and energy to being a part-time firefighter,” he said.
“The drought has got some people to focus more on the farm. In saying that, we can provide some income for people doing it tough — it is a safety net for some.”
Fires have ripped through hundreds of thousands of hectares in the state’s north, with blazes in Tenterfield, Drake and Rappville killing two people, razing homes and leaving firefighters exhausted.
Mr McKinnon, who has been battling blazes non-stop for the past six weeks, said it was vital to recruit more retained firefighters.
“There has been a strain on some resources but to the credit of the firefighters, be that volunteer or on shift, they’ve all stepped up where they have been able to,” Mr McKinnon said.
“You hear these stories about a fire captain from one location calling another asking if they can spare a retained staff to come man a truck in a different location.
“At one stage we had a truck of four different people from four different stations.”
FRNSW estimates at least 40 per cent of its 78 stations across the state have vacancies for among retained firefighters.
Tenterfield and Warialda stations in particularly have chronic shortages and need at least nine more retained firefighters ahead of summer.
It is an area where firefighters have been worked off their feet ever since a lightning strike on September 5 started a vicious fire near Tenterfield — sparking an early start to bushfire season.
More than 50 buildings have been razed by the fire which has been aggravated by unseasonably hot, dry and windy weather.
Retained firefighters have to undergo a series of tests to assess emotional resilience, situational awareness and physical fitness.
Once they pass their initial tests, recruits receive on-the-job training, gaining life support qualifications and a truck driving licence.
Rob Grill signed up as a retained firefighter 13 years ago and said the job was getting more rewarding each year.
“I wanted to give back to the community, I live in the small town of Coraki and it is a great way to show that you care about your town,” he said.
“You feel good about yourself. This lifts your spirits and it lifts the spirits of other people in town knowing that they have people who are ready to defend their homes and town.”
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