Firefighter graduate joins father and partner in the job

Firefighters have defined Camilla Montague’s life, and now she’s joined the ranks at Glebe Fire Station.

The 2019 graduating class have started their first firefighting jobs, and Camilla Montague feels right at home at Glebe Fire Station. Image: Monique Harmer

• Say goodbye to single-use coffee cups
• ‘Gang-related’ shoplifting increasing

Glebe’s newest firefighter recruit, Camilla Montague, rescued one of her pups from a house fire long before she became a firefighter herself.

Her partner, who works as a firey in Sydney’s west, attended a house fire with his crew, where they pulled a dog and its owner out of a burning building.

Unfortunately the owner passed away from his injuries, and the kelpie was taken to the local vet.

Ms Montague and her partner visited the dog at the vet and ended up taking her home to the Sutherland Shire.

They renamed her Phoenix — the dog who rose from the ashes.

New recruit Camilla Montague at Glebe Fire Station. Image: Monique Harmer

New recruit Camilla Montague said sliding down the pole is probably only fun the first time. Image: Monique Harmer

Today, the 32-year-old is working her third shift at Glebe fire station, following in the footsteps of her father, who was a firefighter for 25 years, and joining the field her partner loves.

She is one of 16 new recruits in Sydney and one of about 6500 who applied.

There have been no fires yet but she’s attended gas leaks and fire alarms, and said Glebe is a pretty busy station and she’s satisfied being able to help the community.

Ms Montague previously worked as physiotherapist for seven years.

“I felt like I wanted to do a bit more for the community, where every day is a bit different,” she said.

Camilla Montague works her first shifts at Glebe Fire Station after being chosen as one of 6500 who applied in NSW. Image: Monique Harmer

Her family encouraged her to apply and 18 months ago she began the recruitment process. In April she received the call that she would attend the intensive Fire and Rescue NSW Emergency Services Academy, where she graduated last week.

“The recruitment process is quite difficult, thousands of people applied, there’s cognitive testing, emotional testing and then you do a physical test, an interview and a medical test. It took over 12 months.”

Graduation at the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills last week.

She said the hardest park was the physical test, but her weightlifting training helped.

“You don’t really know how you’ve gone, you’re competing with so many other people … They get you to do firefighting drills, drag a dummy and a hose, go up and down stairs carrying things, lift a ladder, lift 40kg over your head, quite physically demanding,” she said.

“It’s a long process but it’s well worth it, really fulfilling.”

Ms Montague said there’s pride in being one of the chosen ones.

“It’s important to remember that as well if you’re having a hard day, how many others would love to be in your shoes,” she said.