Preparation for fire season

Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews has encouraged Umina residents to become NSW Fire Brigade's Community Fire Unit members and to work with local firefighters to prepare and protect their homes during the summer fire season.

Ms Andrews said the Community Fire Unit program aimed to build community resilience by providing residents who live near the bush the skills they need to prepare and protect their homes from the threat of fire.

"Everyone has a role to play when it comes to protecting their homes during the summer fire season which started on October 1," Ms Andrews said.

"Community Fire Unit members support local firefighters by putting out spot fires and flying embers in their street before and after the main fire fronts have passed.

This allows NSW Fire Brigade and Rural Fire Service firefighters to get on with the job of fighting the intense fire fronts.

Ms Andrews said an information session was held by NSW Fire Brigade was to recruit residents in Umina who would like to form a Community Fire Unit in their street.

According to Ms Andrews, there are currently units in the Umina and Horsfield Bay areas who worked hard to prepare and protect their homes and their neighbours' homes from the threat of fire and help raise awareness in the local community.

These residents worked actively all-year-round clearing leaves out of gutters, maintaining fire breaks and preparing themselves and their properties for the summer fire season."

Unit members undergo initial training and recurrent skills maintenance training every year with firefighters from the NSW Fire Brigade Bushland Urban Interface Unit and local fire stations.

Residents learn about fire behaviour, first aid, test their skills pumping water from static water supplies using a portable pump, and practice using fire hoses and hydrants.

Each Community Fire Unit is provided with equipment valued at $15,000, including fire fighting hoses, portable pumps, hydrant standpipes, safety helmets, gloves, smoke masks, goggles, tools, first aid kits, boots and protective clothing.

For more information about the Community Fire Unit program visit the NSW Fire Brigade website at www.fire.nsw.gov.au.

Press release, 17 Nov 2008 Marie Andrews, Member for Gosford