Williamtown-Salt Ash Rural Fire Brigade is, as are all NSWRFS Brigades, community based.

And as such we support our community in many ways other then preserving life and property from fire.

We promote public awareness where ever possible, wether it be a school fete, community fair, shopping centre promotion, station open days or our annual community education run (nee - Santa run). These displays involve informing the community that we are here and what we do for them by handing out information. We occasionally gain a new member in this fashion but this is not our aim, more over we are promoting the Service and our interaction with the community.

 

Our interest in public education has strengthened over the years and we now participate in "Firewise for Kids". Over several years we have been educating the children of Williamtown and Salt Ash in a co-ordinated program to give them an initial foundation in basic fire safety at both state primary schools with good results. We have recently increased our Firewise facilitators by two and we hope after the current fire season to promote "Firewise Forums", another co-ordinated program of information and assistance to encourage residents on the urban fringes to prepare their homes - hopefully in small working groups - against the threat of bushfire with emphasis on fire safety and taking responsibility for it in their locality. This not only helps the community in living with bushfire but assists us greatly in helping them in times of bushfire. Should any one be interested in "Community Firewise" any where in NSW please ring your local Council for assistance in contacting your relevant facilitators, or ask for a brochure.

 

 

 

Under the programme the RFS has developed:

a) Street FireWise (street meetings and street walks)
b) FireWise Groups (small groups facilitated by Firefighters)
c) Crime Stoppers (anti bushfire arson)
d) FireWise Alert (immediate pre impact intervention strategies)
e) FireWise Schools (resources designed for teachers, integrated with
the curriculum)
f) FireWise Farms (fire safety audits)
g) FireWise Forums (Community meetings)

 

 

BUSH FIRE PREVENTION

Arson... it's a CRIME committed by CRIMINALS!

You can reduce your own risk and the risk of others around you by helping us fight arson.

Fact

Many of the bush and grass fires in NSW are most likely caused by human ignition. Whilst not all of these are the rest of arson, deliberately lit bush fires cost the community millions of dollars each year and have the potential to destroy property, cause injury and even kill people.

How Can You Help?

• Ensure your property is kept clean and tidy and free from 'easy' targets like piles of flamable debris or abandoned vehicles.
  
• Lower levels of available fuel not only reduces the potential for opportunistic fire lighters, but also greatly reduces the size of any potential fire which, in turn, reduces the 'reward' that arsonists often seek from lighting a fire.
  
• Ensure your family and friends are well aware of both the dangers and consequences to themselves and others of inaapropriate fire lighting.
  
• Be aware of any unusual increase in the frequency of fires in your area.
  
  

and if a fire does affect your neighbourhood try to:

• Note the description of any people you observed entering or leaving the fire scene prior to the fire.
  
• Record the registration and a description of any vehicles you observed entering or leaving the fire scene prior to the fire.

Play your part, report suspicious activity to CRIME STOPPERS on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au

The NSW Rural Fire Service is committed to the reduction of deliberately-lit fires and works closely with NSW Police Force and NSW Fire Brigades.