Albion Park Rural Fire Brigade in Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia | Fire station

Albion Park Rural Fire Brigade

Locality: Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 2 4256 2838

Address: 98 Tongarra Road 2527 Albion Park, NSW, Australia

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23.01.2022 Meet the Crew This week we caught up with Deputy Captain,Terry Quinn. As you can see, he is a bit of a poser and a jokester but when on the fire ground he works hard and his knowledge and experience reflects his 43 years of service. Nickname: Gloworm ... How long have you volunteered with the RFS: 43 years Why did you join the RFS: I was in scouts and one of the Fathers was the Captain of Austimeer Brigade. He invited me to go and look at the trucks one day and I started from there. What’s the funniest call out you have attended: Went to Grafton on a sec 44 and on the way we were given chocolate thick shakes for breakfast, we got on the fire ground digging a fire trail for miles and everyone started throwing up due to the thick shakes and the heat. What’s your day job: Semi retired, Procurement Coordinator for Kiama Council. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of joining: Embrace the training, listen and learn. Embrace the friendships. Your favourite piece of equipment to use: The new vehicles, the way the vehicles safety, equipment, reliability has evolved and advanced from previous years is amazing. And they keep getting better. Terry said the support of family, neighbours and friends, when in the brigade, is phenomenal and paramount. Without it crew members cannot do the jobs they do. Terry has thoroughly enjoyed his 43 years in the brigade and has travelled interstate with crews. One of the best things I have ever got out of the brigade is the friendships and mateships they are formed quickly and last a lifetime.

21.01.2022 Another severe thunderstorm warning for the area. Be safe

20.01.2022 With temps soaring this weekend and a total fire ban in place from midnight tonight... Here is a video showing the ferocious speed of a grass fire. Do you have a fire safety plan? https://fb.watch/21Dz23g3SR/

19.01.2022 Another storm forecast for our region tonight. Stay safe everyone

19.01.2022 Meet the Crew This week we caught up with Deputy Captain, Dick Johnston Nickname: Dick... How long have you volunteered with the RFS: 45 years Why did you join the RFS: I was the local milkman and my Cousin was the Fire Control Officer and mentioned I would be ideal for day time call outs due to the nature of my job. I came down for a working bee one day to see what it was all about. I paid $1 to become a member and haven’t looked back. What’s the weirdest call out you have attended: We were called out to a structure fire that ended up being a garage. The cause of the fire was the owner burning their wedding photos against the roller door of the garage and the flames went into the roof space. A structure fire and we go the front of the garage out. What’s the biggest fire you have attended: There are 2 big structure fires I can recall, the doctor’s surgery in Albion Park where we assisted Fire and Rescue. 6 shops caught alight, it was a really dangerous fire. And then there was the IGA fire in Jamberoo, we assisted Fire and Rescue and other RFS crews, including Jamberoo. The fire was that ferocious we used the entire water allocation for Jamberoo that night. What’s your day job: I’m now retired. Before retirement I was the Milkman for Albion Park and Albion Park Rail. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of joining: Time management, it can be hard to manage your lifestyle with family, work and brigade. Times have changed since I first joined up and people find it harder to find the time to attend training and calls. However, it is so rewarding if you can find the time. You see and learn some great things. Your favourite piece of equipment to use: The pumper, followed closely by the chainsaws.

18.01.2022 Another section of the East West Link to open on 3rd Dec...

17.01.2022 Some hot hot hot weather this weekend

17.01.2022 Huge news from Gareth Ward! Albion Park Bypass to open a year ahead of schedule... by mid next year in fact!

16.01.2022 A crew has attended Albion Park Woolworths this morning along with a Fire & Rescue crew. The roof has collapsed and the store has flooded. It is currently closed, whilst clean up and damage assessment is carried out.

15.01.2022 Last night crew members from the brigade were awarded their NSW Bushfire Emergency Citation for their service and dedication during the 2019-2020 NSW bushfires. Members received their citation, a certificate of citation, a letter from the NSW Premier and a commemorative cap. Thanks go out from all crew members to their families for their support, as without it, we would not be able to carry out our duties. Also a huge thank you to the local community for their support, donations and well wishes.

14.01.2022 Meet the Crew. This week we met with Senior Deputy Captain, Tony Hurry. We managed to get a pic of him and the crew when he was Group Captain for a section 44 in Tenterfield. Nickname: Knackers It comes from work colleagues.... How long have you volunteered with the RFS?: 40 years. Why did you join the RFS?: When I was 16, I walked past the station and the Captain stopped me in the street and asked what I was doing. He persuaded me to join the tug of war team and after winning the tug of war comp (across Aus) he asked me to join the brigade. What’s the funniest call out you have attended?: We were sent on a section 44 to Grafton and put up in a hotel for the night. A peacock decided to sit outside another members room and make noise all night and kept him awake. When we had to leave the peacock chased him and kept biting him. It was hilarious. What’s the scariest call you have been to?: Bungonia Gorge - We were sent in at night to put a fire trail in to the creek bed at the bottom. The terrain was awful and, being dark, we couldn’t see. The next morning the terrain was so bad we couldn’t get back out of the gorge so had to be airlifted out by helicopter. What’s your day job?: I’m a Construction Leading Hand for Wollongong City Council What is one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of joining?: It’s great to be part of the community and give something back. You’ll also make lifelong friends. Your favourite piece of equipment to use?: The GRN Radio, I’m a member of the Illawarra District Communications Brigade so I get to use the GRN all the time and love the fact there is always someone to talk to ha ha... Tony and his partner, Kim, owned the laundry in Albion Park, however, they have recently sold it to new owners. Tony’s son, Kieran, is a member of the Brigade as well. They have also recently welcomed two grandchildren.

12.01.2022 This week the brigade got together to conduct training in using the breathing apparatus (BA) that we have on the trucks. To be a BA Operator you are required have completed a specialised course and obtain a recertification every year. These are the crew members that respond to more hazardous calls like structure fires, vehicle fires e.t.c. . Hence the different coloured structural PPE that provides them with more protection.

12.01.2022 Our very own Jordan Darracott attended this training today.

10.01.2022 Due to recent weather, NSW RFS is increasing the fire danger rating in parts of NSW tomorrow

06.01.2022 Today marks 40 years since five young lives were tragically lost battling a bush fire at Waterfall. It was 3rd November 1980 - just before 5am crews were aler...ted to a bush fire burning near McKell Avenue. Numerous brigades responded to the southern end of the Royal National Park, working to contain a large fire which was burning under mild conditions. The conditions on the day were cool, the temperature reached 19c, humidity was low and southerly winds prevailed. As the southerly winds increased in strength late afternoon, the fire transitioned from the forested area into heath, increasing the intensity and spread. The fire rapidly headed in a northerly direction towards the Uloola trail. It was on this trail where a fire tanker from Headquarters (Heathcote) Brigade was overrun by fire. It was at this location where five brave firefighters were lost - Steve Crunkhorn, 26, Gregory Rolfe, 24, Vernon Stedman, 21, William Cummings, 21 and David Marshall, 19. The fire was contained days later after burning 2,246 hectares of the Royal National Park. We remember these brave firefighters.

05.01.2022 Yesterday a crew assisted Kiama and Dunmore FRNSW crews when a vehicle caught fire in the Princess Highway near Kiama.

04.01.2022 Meet the Crew This week we caught up with Deputy Captain, Josh Pietrobelli. Born and raised in Albion Park, his community spirit is in abundance as we chatted about why he serves in the RFS. Nickname: I don’t have one.... How long have you volunteered with the RFS: 14 years Why did you join the RFS: To give back to the community, I truly appreciate the community we have here in Albion Park and wanted to give something back. This community does so much for each other and this was evident in last years bushfire season. The amount of donations to all local brigades and offerings of assistance was phenomenal. What’s the funniest experience you have had: I was on a crew flying to Glenn Innes from a South Sydney Airport. A member of the crew had aerophobia, a fear of flying. They put us on the smallest plane they could find to the point the pilot was asking our weight and checking bag weight to evenly distribute across the small plane. The crew member was getting whiter and whiter with each question. They couldn’t have picked a worse situation for the poor guy. It might sound harsh, laughing at his fear, but he did see the funny side too... once we were back on land. What’s your day job: Emergency Controller for BlueScope. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of joining: Do it... once you have joined make sure you balance your lifestyle - Family, Work, Brigade. Your favourite piece of equipment to use: Roof Monitor - Its good to work from the protection of the truck and is very efficient against grass fires. When asked why he continues to serve with the RFS Josh stated, Its good to be involved, the brigades are made up from such a large demographic of the community. We are all different people but come together in times of need and being involved with that is priceless and takes a unique type of person. We get the job done for the community.

03.01.2022 A TOTAL FIRE BAN has been declared for the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, GSA and other numerous areas for tomorrow. The FDR is Very High.