FireWise communities experience fewer fires and fewer fire-related deaths, injuries and property losses. If it's your property, it's your fuel and you are legally responsible for reducing hazards.
Bushfire prone communities are safer when they understand how to act in a bushfire situation, such as:
- when to call '000'
- what a Total Fire Ban means
- how to prepare their property
- what to wear when protecting their home.
The NSW Rural Fire Service runs several programs to support communities throughout NSW, including Firewise.
The FireWise program is run by RFS members trained in community education techniques and aims to create a fire-sensible population. Advice and training is given on personal safety, identifying hazards and ways to treat them, and safe burning practices.
Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service has an active public safety information service.
Bush FireWise Survival Plan
This is a plan that residents in bush fire prone areas should complete, considering all members of the household. Information on how to complete the Bush FireWise Survival Plan can be found on the Bush FireWise Survival Plan page.
Community FireWise Groups
This is a coordinated program where residents can become involved with fire safety in their community. Trained facilitators help to set up and maintain Community FireWise Groups.
Static Water Supply (SWS) Marking System
The SWS marking system provides specially designed markers for landowners with useable water supplies such as dams and pools. Brigades record these as part of pre-incident planning to source readily available water.
Visits to schools, field days, agricultural shows and fetes
The RFS has a mobile education unit housed in a pantechnicon truck. On board are 5 computers with fire safety games for children, fire prevention information for adults and a variety of audiovisual information.
Cadet Volunteer Program
The community relies on people, from all walks of life, to give their time to become members of the RFS. Cadets learn new and marketable skills that assist them in their day-to-day life. They get to help make their community a safer place to live in and enjoy the support of the rest of their community for their efforts. Cadet membership is not only about being future firefighters, a range of roles are available including:
- Radio Communications
- Welfare Support
- Catering
- Equipment Maintenance
- Community Education
- Administration
- Fundraising
- Community Activity
- Competition Championships
- Recreational Activity
- Social Activity
- Firefighter
- Fireguard for Kids
