Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Support Brigade
Vehicle & equipment familiarisation day
A number of Support members attended a regional vehicle and equipment familiarisation day at Westleigh Training Centre today. Members were shown all the workings of tankers and the multitude of equipment used in RFS activities. Topics covered included:
- Pump & Foam
- Tyres & Recovery
- Vehicle engines
- Hose banding & correct testing
- Hand Tool Maintenance
- Portable Pumps & Generators
Support members involved in regional fire boat exercises
Saturday March 7 saw the largest Fire Boat exercise in the southern hemisphere being conducted on the Hawkesbury River. 15 Support brigade members were amongst the 175 participants that took part in the day long exercises.
After a 5am start, members were transported to the staging area and then deployed in various exercises including a ferry fire, sinking vessel, ladder rescues, pump staging and a marina fire. Everyone involved gained valuable experience in what was a tiring but thoroughly enjoyable day.
See more photos in the Photo Gallery.
Pumps and hydraulics training day
Over 20 Support Brigade members spent most of Valentines Day undergoing pumps and hydraulics training in the Cowan region. Members were drilled in hydraulics theory then were given the chance to put it to work, firstly practicing opening street mains in Cowan. Later at the Cowan Air Base members were divided into teams to work with portable pumps, deploying and using the Buoy Wall, rolling hoses, working with the tanker filler and also with a Cat 1 fire truck.
It was an interesting and most enjoyable day for all involved.
Berowra Lions present cheque
The Lions Club of Berowra very generously presented the District with a cheque for $12,000 today.
This amount was shared amongst Fire Control and some local brigades, with each brigade (including Support Brigade) receiving $1000.
The generosity of the Lions Club is greatly appreciated by us all.
Berowra Tower spots fire started by lightning
On November 1 (a day of Total Fire Ban), a keen-eyed member of Berowra Fire Tower spotted a small plume of smoke, suspected to be from a fire started by a lightning strike. The member estimated the location of the fire to be where the orange pin is shown on the photo at right.
This was reported in, and two teams entered the rugged bushland from different locations to investigate.
Upon arrival they discovered a small, early fire located at the red pin - a remarkably accurate estimation of location!
They were able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent what could have been a much bigger problem.
The photo below shows the small fire.
