FIRIES UNITE

Story and photo by Bev Jordan

Joint training exercises have been running in the Hills between local Fire and Rescue crews and the Rural Fire Service.

Team leadership groups from both Hornsby Western and Hills RFS worked with Fire and Rescue NSW officers at Castle Hill Fire Station on current incident management systems at both agencies.

Around 30 RFS members and approximately six 6 Fire and Rescue staff attended the sessions held over three nights.

Castle Hill Station Officer, Commander Brett Johnson FRNSW said it familiarised both agencies with their current Incident management systems which would assist in dual agency responses such as a structure (building) fire.

“Without this ongoing assessment and training, there could be a risk of one agency talking in a different language on a fireground,” he said.

“It allows both agencies to practice in an environment that is obviously more forgiving than a high risk active structural fire scenario.”

A training exercise, with services dealing with a “disaster scenario” was carried out in Vision Valley, Arcadia earlier in the year.

A third combined training Incident is planned for August 18 which will be run by Glenhaven RFS and will be attended by Kellyville RFS and both Castle Hill and Kellyville Fire and Rescue NSW “A” Platoons.