Mount Wilson / Mount Irvine Rural Fire Brigade
Joining Up...
- Details
We welcome new members and we offer a multitude of roles other than firefighting. Firefighting, station officer, communications, catering, logistics, planning and aviation support are all critical – there is a job for everyone in our Brigade.
If you are thinking of joining the Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine Rural Fire Brigade, you will need to:
- Join the NSW Rural Fire Service. Approach one of the Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine Brigade members who will help you through the joining process.
- This involves
- Complete RFS membership application at the Mt Wilson Fire Station. You will need 100 points ID plus two extra cards, which means for example we will need to see your passport, drivers licence, plus 2 other cards (credit cards, medicare card, etc.).We then send the application into the RFS for processing.
- Complete online Volunteer Induction (VI) and Safety Induction (SI) courses. Go to https://fuel.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ and login as a guest (down near bottom of login options). You will need to provide a name so that the RFS can cross refer your online completion with your membership later on. Complete the VI and SI courses. You can do these as many times as you like, so don’t worry about getting something wrong as you do them.
- When you visit the fire station, one of us has to take you through a practical assessment of your SI course. This is quite simple and nothing to be worried about. The goal is for us to make sure you get through.
- The membership forms will need to be signed by the Captain, Senior Deputy, a Deputy Cation or Training Officer of the Brigade.
- Following this you commence formal training to become a bushfire fighter or a support person. We need as many support people as we do operational fire fighters.
It will help you to understand the process if you review the pdf 10 Steps to Becoming a Volunteer (95 KB) before you make a final decision.
We welcome new members and encourage you to join. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.
What We Do
- Details
Mt Wilson / Mt Irvine Rural Fire Brigade is in the West Sector of the Blue Mountains District of the NSW Rural Fire Service and serves the villages of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine and surrounding areas, which includes the northern area of the Blue Mountains from near Bell to near Mt Tomah.
The Brigade is a volunteer emergency response organisation comprising people who have property in the two villages or an interest in the area. About one-third of local residents are active in the Brigade and approximately 70% of those active members live off the mountains mostly in Sydney but also have a local property for weekends and holidays. So the Brigade relies on the 30% who live locally as the first response to most incidents during the week. However, the off mountain active members give the Brigade a depth to respond to long running and major incidents.
The area for which the Brigade has prime responsibility is shown in this map.
The Brigade was formed in 1958 and has been engaged in community service since then.
Barkers Creek fire November 2006
Wilsons Promontory, Victoria Feb 2009
The Brigade responds to many different types of incidents and also responds to assist other brigades, particularly those who are adjacent to us.
Typical incidents the Brigade responds to are:
- Search and rescues for people who are lost or who have had an accident in the Blue Mountains
- Community First Responder medical incidents which happen when local residents call '000' for ambulance assistance
- Supporting Police and Ambulance with people lost or injured in the local canyons.
- Motor vehicle accidents, particularly along Bell's Line of Road between Mt Tomah and Bell
- Bush fires which can be local or in other parts of the Blue Mountains. We also supply teams to other districts and States when requested.
- Village fires in houses or other property
- Hazard reductions locally and in support of other brigades.
- Storm damage to remove trees and vegetation from local roads
- Patrolling during fire bans and high risk periods to look for any signs of fire
- Regional Response Group
Mt Wilson Fire Station
Cat 7, Cat 1 and Personnel Carrier in Mt Wilson Fire Station
Truck Accident Bells Line of Road Nov 2010
History
- Details
In July 2011 an article called Brigades in Profile was written for the RFS Bushfire Bulletin which detailed the brigade at the time and outlined the many services the brigade provides the community.
Captains
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From
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Until
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Name
|
|---|---|---|
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1958
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1966
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Bert Kirk
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|
1966
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1974
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Peter Kirk
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|
1974
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1980
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Jack Gunn
|
|
1980
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1981
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Alan Gunn
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|
1981
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1994
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Bill Scrivener
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|
1994
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2001
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Mark Austin
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|
2001
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2006
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Barry Freeman
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|
2006
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2008
|
Peter Raines
|
|
2008
|
Beth Raines
|
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A very early photo of the first fire truck used by the Mt Wilson/ Mt Irvine Brigade. It was a Chev Blitz modified as a fire truck.
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The Mt Irvine 1945 Studebaker Fire Truck which was the second fire truck in Mt Irvine
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Taken in March 1978, the 1945 Studebaker Fire Truck at Mt Irvine has Geoffrey Naylor, Alison, Grant, Hugh Smart (on the ground) and Paul Naylor driving.
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Taken in 1979 with Paul Naylor at driver's door and Geoff Naylor at rear.
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Alan Gunn with one of the early Mt Wilson/ Mt Irvine Cat 7 Fire Trucks
RFS Past Newsletters
- Details
Between November 2003 and February 2008, the Mt Wilson / Mt Irvine Rural Fire Brigade published a regular newsletter.
After February 2008, the RFS newsletter was incorporated into the Mt Wilson Progress Association newsletter.
pdf RFS February 2008 (718 KB)
pdf RFS November 2007 (197 KB)
pdf RFS February 2007 (304 KB)
pdf RFS December 2006 (175 KB)
pdf RFS November 2006 (1.52 MB)
pdf RFS September 2006 (1.56 MB)
pdf RFS December 2005 (492 KB)
pdf RFS February 2005 (1.53 MB)
Bushfire Information for Visitors
- Details
Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine are areas of extreme bushfire risk. If you are travelling to Mt Wilson or Mt Irvine during the bushfire season (usually 1st October to 31st March) it is wise to check first that conditions are safe. There are a number of websites which provide vital information on bushfire activity:
- The NSW Rural Fire Service website provides the latest information on current bushfires in NSW as well as tips on travelling, camping, bushwalking and caravanning during the bushfire season. Check to see what the Fire Danger Rating is and if there is a Total Fire Ban (TOBAN).
Even outside the bushfire season hazard reductions may be taking place (usually in spring or autumn) which may lead to delays, decreased visibility due to smoke and road and park closures. The NSW RFS website will have the latest updates on hazard reduction activity.
The NSW RFS has a free app, 'Fires Near me', which provides warnings of fires in your vicinity. However, please note that mobile phone reception at Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine is erratic.
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- The National Parks and Wildlife Service website provides information on park closures and hazard reduction activity in National Parks.
- The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) website provides warnings on road closures due to fires or reduced visibility on roads due to smoke.
If you are travelling to Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine during the bushfire season take plenty of water, tell someone where you are going and IF CONDITIONS ARE NOT GOOD, DON'T GO.
Subcategories
In the Media
Mt Wilson/ Mt Irvine Brigade members have participated in many incidents and events both locally and in support of other Brigades and States, some of which which have appeared in the media.
Major Callout Events
Periodically major callouts occur which require volunteer crews to be working for the community over several days. Some of these have been recorded and they are listed below.
Brigade Payments & Donations
Welcome to the Mt Wilson/ Mt Irvine Brigade payments page. On this page you can join, renew your membership, make donations to the Brigade, or purchase items during a fundraising event.
Members are the life of a Brigade and so new and continuing members are very welcome.
Thanks to your generosity, the Brigade has been able to purchase essential equipment, improvements to our fire station, and the static water supply throughout the community.
You can make payments online by Direct Deposit through your bank, using your credit card with PayPal or use your PayPal account, or by Cheque.
