NSW RFS - Shoalhaven

09/06/2024

Congratulations to these Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) recipients, including Captain Charlie Schusser from Falls Creek Brigade, within the Shoalhaven.

Shoalhaven City Council
Radio 2ST
South Coast Register
ABC Illawarra
9 News Illawarra
WIN News Illawarra
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM

Congratulations to the eight RFS members receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2024 King's Birthday Honour list. The AFSM was instituted in 1988 and recognises those who have rendered distinguished service as a member of the Australian fire service.

Join us in congratulating our eight members on their exceptional service to the NSW Rural Fire Service and their community:
- Firefighter Lorraine Bruce – Mid Coast
- Group Captain Peter Johnstone – Canobolas
- Group Captain (retired) Clifford Last – Coffs Coast
- Senior Deputy Captain Walter Murray – Clarence Valley
- Captain Charles Schusser – Shoalhaven
- Group Captain Richard Scilley – Namoi/Gwydir
- Captain Fiona Stalgis – Blue Mountains
- Firefighter Suzanne Talbert – The Hills

To read more about the recipients, visit the website: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/general-news/eight-rfs-members-honoured-on-kings-birthday

06/06/2024

It’s not a day for unnecessary travel.

Stay informed about severe weather and it’s possible effects in your area. If you have essential travel, check road conditions in the area you’re traveling into.

By the way, flood waters are not for driving through!

Stay safe. Monitor conditions. Don’t drive, walk or ride through flood waters.

🚨 Severe Weather Alert 🚨

🌧️ HEAVY RAINFALL & FLASH FLOODING 🌧️

🔴 Areas Affected: Illawarra, parts of the South Coast, and southern areas of Metropolitan Sydney.

⚠️ Situation: Overnight we have seen some significant falls between 150 and 200mm's in some locations. As the morning progresses scattered six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 and 60 mm are expected, with isolated totals around 100 mm possible.
Scattered 24-hour rainfall totals between 75 and 100 mm are likely, with isolated totals around 130 mm possible.
Heavy rainfall will contract to mostly the Illawarra coastal areas and northern parts of the South Coast during the day.
🚗 Road Hazards:
Flooded Roads: Do not drive, ride, or walk through floodwater.
Creeks & Storm Drains: Keep clear of these areas.
Flash Flooding: Seek refuge in the highest available place if trapped and call 000 for rescue.

🔍 Stay Vigilant:
Monitor conditions closely.
📞 Emergency Help:

If you find any damage due to Storms or flooded roads - please call us on 132500.
Stay safe and informed! Know your risks and make the safe decision this morning. 🙌

03/06/2024

For the past 6 days NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters, incident commanders, logistics teams and support personnel have worked to assist Fire and Rescue NSW at the Manildra silo fire.

The multi-agency response was well coordinated with firefighters from FRNSW, Manildra and the RFS supporting each other and ensuring a safe environment in what was a complex and prolonged incident.

We also appreciate the work by NSW Ambulance crews who stood up to ensure that immediate assistance was available should our team have needed it. All of our agencies work to support each other and to ensure great community safety outcomes.

Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 477 Ulladulla
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry
Shoalhaven City Council
NSW RFS Illawarra Sutherland Team

01/06/2024

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT | Early on Friday evening RFS brigades were responded to a motor vehicle accident on Grassy Gully Road near Coolendel campgrounds, 20km west of Nowra.

Ninety-nine (99) school children + teachers and support staff had been traveling from the grounds when their bus slipped off the road and hit a tree, smashing several windows and wedging it across the road, trapping the second coach behind it and anyone else trying to leave the area.

Fortunately no one was injured, however with the onset of a cold night, emergency services were faced with 113 people that needed to be evacuated from the remote area to a warm and safe place, prior to continuing their journey home.

NSW Rural Fire Service crews lead the planning and ex*****on of the process, utilising a number of buses bought in to ferry the group to the Shoalhaven Integrated Emergency Management Centre (IEMC) in Nowra. Crews provided lighting and blankets, worked with staff to confirm the manifest and account for all students and then evacuate them. Crews also worked with NSW Ambulance officers to ensure the safety and welfare of all persons and South Coast Police District officers to manage the recovery of the bus late into the night.

The operation conducted over a 6-hour period was highly successful with no injuries reported.

West Nowra Rural Fire Brigade
Shoalhaven Heads Rural Fire Brigade
fans

21/05/2024

National Volunteer Week | Where would be be without volunteers?

Whether it’s the volunteers at your local sporting club who keep the games moving, Surf Clubs who remain vigilant and keep you from danger, someone who delivers meals to the elderly or drops by to keep lonely locals company, the ones who build and fix things for community groups, those who look after our kids who who need a break from some of life’s tough circumstances or our very own RFS members who often put themselves in harms way to protect their local community.

The world would not spin without the Volunteer Spirit!

This week we say cheers to volunteers. National Volunteer Week, it’s the least we can do to recognise all that they do.

Shoalhaven City Council
94.9 Power FM
Radio 2ST
South Coast Register
ABC Illawarra
South Coast Police District
9 News Illawarra

https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/get-involved/nvw/

19/05/2024

Over the past 2-days RFS leaders from across the Shoalhaven district have come together for our Leadership Forum.

This has been a great opportunity to review the past 12-months, discuss future projects and refresh our skills.

Hosted at HMAS Albatross, we ventured into topics including ‘Command and Leadership’, Recruitment and Retention, Lessons Management and Incident Controllers Intent.

A great weekend of professional development and networking.

fans
Shoalhaven City Council

12/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all mums. Thank you for so often being the glue that holds us together.

To our mums, thank you for all you do within our community. If life weren’t busy enough, you still find the time to help prepare communities, respond to emergencies and assist with recovery.

11/05/2024

Beat the rainy blues; brighten up your day with a visit to the Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra open day.

It’s on until 2pm.

28/04/2024

It’s been a busy weekend for local RFS brigades with over 15 fire appliances committed across two hazard reductions, two marine incidents and numerous other incident calls.

Crews completed a hazard reduction at Burrier and partially completed another near Bangalee. These works will protect numerous properties and crews will return at a later stage to complete the identified burn perimeter where necessary.

Our Marine group members were diverted from their salvage assist task on Currembene Creek to a reported fire onboard a 35-Foot cruiser on St. Georges Basin. Fortunately responding crews were assisted by local boaties and transported to the vessel along with portable pumps and extinguishers, whilst the RFS boats were launched. The vessel owner and RFS crews contained the fire quickly and the vessel was towed to its mooring by Marine Rescue NSW out of Sussex Inlet. This became a protracted incident as the electrical fire kept reigniting and RFS firefighters, working with the vessels owner forced entry into a number of compartments in order to isolate primary and secondary power sources. South Coast Police District launched their Police Boat to assist in the multi-agency response.

RFS Marine crews then returned to Currumbene Creek to work with Fire and Rescue NSW Station 488 Shellharbour and Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven to retrieve booms whilst the sunken boat from Friday’s incident was salvaged.

Shoalhaven City Council
Radio 2ST
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
ABC Illawarra
NSW Rural Fire Service
9 News Illawarra
NSW Maritime
Fire and Rescue NSW
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM

26/04/2024

HAZARD REDUCTION | RFS firefighters will undertake a hazard reduction burn north west of Nowra in Bangalee / Tapitallee on Saturday April 27.

The Scout Camp Hazard Reduction is 7.6ha - however crews are likely to only complete part of the burn.

Forecast north westerly winds may push smoke towards Nowra CBD, however easterly winds are forecast from early afternoon which will clear it away.

To see if a hazard reduction is planned near you and for advice on preparing your home, visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/hazard-reductions.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST

26/04/2024

HAZARD REDUCTION | RFS firefighters will undertake a hazard reduction burn west of Nowra on Saturday April 27.

The Burrier Hazard Reduction is 4ha in size.

Forecast easterly winds will push smoke away from Nowra, however smoke inversion may occur overnight as temperatures drop.

To see if a hazard reduction is planned near you and for advice on preparing your home, visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/hazard-reductions.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST

26/04/2024

HAZMAT INCIDENT | NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters, Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven, Fire and Rescue NSW Station 488 Shellharbour and NSW Maritime have responded to a sunken vessel in Currambene Creek at Woollamia, near Jervis Bay.

The vessel has 200lt of fuel on-board and whilst there has been no leak detected, crews placed booms around it to limit and environmental damage should conditions change.

RFS Shoalhaven Boat Alpha along with a Maritime vessel moved crews and equipment to the site. Once a salvage timeframe has been established emergency services will collaborate once again to ensure the ongoing prevention of any fuel leaks into our local environment.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST
ABC Illawarra

23/04/2024

HAZARD REDUCTION | The RFS is planning a number of hazard reduction burns this Saturday April 27.

> 4ha hazard reduction at Barringella (Burrier Road)
> 7.6ha hazard reduction at Bangalee

Pending ongoing suitable conditions, operations are scheduled to get underway mid-morning. There will be minimal impact on traffic, however people in the area of each HR will see and smell smoke.

For advice on preparing yourself and your home when a hazard reduction is planned near you, go to: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/hazard-reductions

We ask that people remain clear of the area and if you need to travel through these locations, slow down and drive to the conditions. These hazard reductions will reduce the risk of impact by bush fires to surrounding properties and provide a strategic advantage when planning to contain fires should they start in that area.

A further update will be provided on Friday, once final checks are complete.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST

23/04/2024

HAZARD REDUCTION | A number of RFS brigades will undertake a hazard reduction burn near Bundanon on Thursday.

The 1.2ha burn will commence late morning and operations should conclude by mid-afternoon. There will be minimal impact to traffic and people in the surrounding area.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District

17/04/2024

A pleasant surprise today when one of the longest serving RFS team members dropped by to say hello and inspect our Fire Boat and Trail Bikes.

On the way to a visit another district, Smokey took time out to check in with the team and make sure that all our gear is up to scratch. It was also great to share a cuppa and a few gum leaves with this RFS legend.

Travel safe Smokey and see you next time you’re passing through.

NSW Rural Fire Service

14/04/2024

RFS MITIGATION RECRUITMENT

RFS Mitigation recruitment is now underway for various locations throughout NSW.

Mitigation team members play an integral role in bush fire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Checkout the webpage and links on iWork for NSW.

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers/mitigation

03/04/2024

With heavy rain forecast to impact the Shoalhaven over Friday and Saturday, now is the time to prepare.

Follow the NSW SES, download the ‘HAZARDS NEAR ME’ app and get ready.

Remember, if it’s a life threatening situation call triple zero ‘000’. If it’s non-urgent flood or storm damage, call the SES on 132500.

31/03/2024

END OF BUSHFIRE DANGER PERIOD

The statutory bushfire danger period has ended. This means that you no longer require a permit to conduct pile burns, unless you live within the town limits of Berry, Nowra/Bomaderry or Ulladulla - as these areas are administered by Fire and Rescue NSW and require permits all year ‘round.

You are still required to notify the RFS and your neighbours no less than 24hrs prior to burning.

HOW TO NOTIFY THE RFS

You can submit your burn notification easily at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/BFDP/burn-notifications.

Safe burning is your responsibility. Always check the weather conditions, have a water supply available and keep your piles of vegetation a manageable size.

If you do not permanently live on the property, be sure to check that piles are 100% extinguished prior to departure. Escaped pile burns are one of the biggest causes of out of control bush fires - so don’t be a fire risk to your community, regardless of the time of year.


Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST
ABC Illawarra
9 News Illawarra
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 477 Ulladulla

29/03/2024

Agricultural burn - Jaspers Brush

NSW Rural Fire Service brigades are assisting a landowner with an agricultural burn in Jaspers Brush today.

The 5ha burn is on the western side of the Princes Highway and will be conducted with prevailing north east winds, so smoke should not present any significant issues to motorists.

To see what hazard reductions are underway near you, use the ‘Hazards Near Me’ app or check the RFS website. Only call ‘000’ if you see fire without a fire truck in attendance.

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Police District
South Coast Register
94.9 Power FM
Radio 2ST
ABC Illawarra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM
9 News Illawarra
Broughton Vale - Berry Rural Fire Brigade

28/03/2024

Recreational fires | It's great to come together over the long weekend and share moments around a campfire. Whilst you tuck into your Easter eggs, there are a couple of points we wish to remind you about when lighting a fire.

1. A cooking or heating fire (campfire) on your own property does not require any notification to the RFS. The surrounding area must be free of combustible fuels and the fire should be kept to about 0.5m x 0.5m - even better if it's in a fire pit.

To prevent good intent calls to the RFS, notification to your adjoining neighbours is beneficial.

2. Make sure your fire is permissible. If you are visiting the Shoalhaven and enjoying our National Parks, Forestry areas, Council reserves or other areas, please check in with these organisations to confirm if a fire is allowed and under what circumstances.

3. Within the Shoalhaven, campfires on the beaches are not allowed and present a risk to other users.

We hope you have a safe and relaxing long weekend.

More information on safe burning can be found at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/farm-fire-safety/safeburning

South Coast Register
Shoalhaven City Council
94.9 Power FM
ABC Illawarra
Radio 2ST
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 477 Ulladulla
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry
Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council
Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council
Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council

28/03/2024

Shoalhaven land managers and residents no longer require a fire safety permit from the 1st of April | Whilst fire safety permits are not required until the recommencement of the statutory bush fire danger period, people wishing to undertake pile burns to reduce the bush fire hazards on their property are still required to notify their intentions to burn on the RFS website.

You must also notify adjoining properties a minimum of 24 hours in advance of burning.

To provide your notification to the NSW Rural Fire Service visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/BFDP/burn-notifications

Residents and land managers should check conditions and only undertake pile burning if safe to do so. Also, make sure to regularly monitor your burn until completely extinguished and made safe to prevent re-ignition.

For further safe burning tips, visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/farm-fire-safety/safeburning

South Coast Register
Shoalhaven City Council
94.9 Power FM
ABC Illawarra
Radio 2ST
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 477 Ulladulla
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry

23/03/2024

Building Capability | RFS firefighters have joined a multi agency flood rescue training course here in the Shoalhaven.

Facilitated by Fire and Rescue NSW rescue trainers, the course will see the addition of over 30 local RFS flood rescue trained firefighters to our Shoalhaven emergency services capacity, with more to follow over the coming weeks.

This surge capacity is critical when the primary combat agency for floods, NSW SES calls on other emergency services for assistance during heightened and prolonged flood operations.

Shoalhaven City Council
NSW Rural Fire Service

15/03/2024

MULTIPLE STRUCTURES DESTROYED BY FIRE | Just after 4am this morning RFS crews were called to a caravan fire in Cudmirrah. Upon arrival firefighters found several caravans and attached structures alight, with several others exposed and under threat.

The initial response was then escalated to 10 RFS appliances with support from Fire and Rescue NSW.

Firefighters worked throughout the early hours of the morning to bring the fire under control. 2 caravans and numerous adjoining structures were destroyed and several others sustained significant damage.

South Coast Police District and NSW Ambulance attended to support operations. No injuries were reported.

“First arriving crews have done an outstanding job to protect people and property and to fully appreciate the potential of this fire. Updated reports of the fires rapid spread resulted in the immediate escalation of our response, which limited further loses” said RFS Superintendent Matthew Reeves.

An RFS fire investigator will return to the scene this morning to investigate fire cause.

Shoalhaven City Council
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
ABC Illawarra
Radio 2ST
WIN News Illawarra
Chance and Bec Brekkie Show - Triple U FM
9 News Illawarra
Cudmirrah Berrara Rural Fire Brigade
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 477 Ulladulla
NSW Rural Fire Service

12/03/2024

Crews are currently on scene at a haystack fire, within a shed at Jaspers Brush. The fire is contained within the shed and there are no further threats to properties. Smoke may be visible from the highway.

Photo credit Steve Thomson NSW RFS

Shoalhaven City Council
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST
94.9 Power FM
ABC Illawarra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 224 Berry
NSW Rural Fire Service

08/03/2024

HAZARD REDUCTION ADVICE | RFS units will complete a hazard reduction burn near Peel Street in Currarong tomorrow afternoon.

The hazard reduction which commenced in 2023 has been designed in a mosaic pattern so as to improve environmental outcomes for flora and fauna.

This completed hazard reduction will significantly reduce the bush fire risk to residents in West Currarong. Operations are planned to be underway after lunch and should only take a few hours to complete.


Shoalhaven City Council
94.9 Power FM
South Coast Register
Radio 2ST
ABC Illawarra
Currarong Rural Fire Brigade
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 405 Nowra
Fire and Rescue NSW Station 440 Shoalhaven

07/03/2024

As we celebrate International Women’s Day we would like to acknowledge the strength, diversity and skills that our firefighters and members bring to the RFS and their communities.

As a community based fire service it’s important to us that we reflect our communities values and the community itself.

In the RFS, difference is valued and celebrated, so it is important that we celebrate and build on our strengths and acknowledge our incredible role models across the District who continue to .

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/