Last weekend on Saturday 10 May, Fire and Rescue stations across New South Wales opened up their doors to the public.

Superintendent Anthony Hojel commands the Narromine, Trangie, Warren, Dubbo, Cobar, Nyngan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Lighting Ridge, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Dunnedo and Coolah Fire and Rescue NSW stations.

" It's all about being able to open our doors to the community and let them see the fire station and our equipment, as well as being able to provide them with some good winter fire safety advice," he said.

" We can also book in free home safety visits for the public, where we go out and have a look at your house and check smoke alarms or recommend fire escape plans and other things to keep you safe."

If you don't have a fire alarm in your home, FRNSW can install a long-life battery-powered smoke alarm at no cost.

They can also replace batteries in existing smoke alarms.

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said making sure every member of the public has a working smoke alarm is essential.

“This year, we want to make sure that everyone has a working smoke alarm in their home.

“We can’t smell smoke while we’re sleeping, so having a working smoke alarm is so crucial."

In Coonamble, the local Fire and Rescue is hoping to recruit some new members to join their crew.

The current crew is about eleven firefighters, but FRNSW is hoping to fill three vacancies.

Its a similar story in a few of the other brigades in the western plains, where persistent vacancies mean addtional workload for those firefighters on the books.

Cousins Emily, Bonnie and Aria got to sit in a fire truck at FRNSW Coonamble base on Saturday.

Some of the kids in attendance got in sit in the fire truck as FRNSW volunteers explained their daily duties as retained firefighters who are on call part-time to respond to fire and rescue incidents.

Heading into the winter season, FRNSW has also been reminding people that "nothing should be nearer than a metre to a heater."

"It's our job to keep the community safe, but we all play a part in preventing fires," said Mr Hojel.