Fire stations across NSW opened their doors to the community on May 13 allowing local people to come and meet those who work tirelessly to help protect life and property.

In Narromine, Fire & Rescue (FRNSW) Station 401 joined forces with the Narromine Rural Fire Service (RFS) to showcase their work, their equipment and vehicles to their community.

About 50 people stopped by the station during the 2023 Open Day, said Narromine RFS captain George Peters. One visitor who took the time to visit the station was on their way back to Port Macquarie.

The kids enjoyed hopping aboard the fire trucks. PHOTO: Ewen Jones

Interest in the shiny red fire trucks used by both organisations was very high, Captain Peters said. “They wanted to see what the trucks can do.”

And show them they did, using the area across from the station to shoot powerful jets of water across the ground.

Local children also got the chance to climb up and sit in the trucks, which is always a popular activity on Open Day, said Captain Ewen Jones from Station 401.

"The kids love getting in the trucks," he said.

The youngest firefighter in attendance at the Open Day was RFS volunteer cadet Maddison Reynolds, 14. The year nine student, who attends school at Trangie, started with the RFS several months ago.

"My mum's in the firies," Maddison said, when asked why she had joined the RFS at such a young age. Her mum, Renee Lewry, is a Retained Firefighter with the Station 401 crew.

Maddison demonstrated her ability to manage the fire hoses which are very heavy when filled with water. Physical fitness and the ability to handle heavy equipment is a key requirement of firefighters, said Ms Lewry, who has been a Retained Firefighter for two and half years now.

Retained firefighter Renee Lawry with daughter Maddison Reynolds, a volunteer cadet with Narromine F&R

The annual Open Day also provides a welcome opportunity for firefighters across the state to educate the community about fire safety and the importance of smoke detectors, said Captain Jones.

The fire safety message is vitally important with the end of the NSW bushfire season on April 30, and the onset of winter.

RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said the Bush Fire Danger Period was extended for several weeks from the end of March to the end of April in parts of the state due to high fuel loads and warmer than average temperatures.

“We saw an increase in activity late in the season, with significant fires in Narrabri, Mudgee and Upper Lachlan Local Government Areas (LGA),” he said.

“Across the season, firefighters have worked on more than 24,800 bush and grass fires which burnt through over 116,000 hectares.

“March was our busiest month, with firefighters responding to over 2800 incidents, which accounted for almost 50% of the total hectares burnt across the whole fire season.

“We also sadly saw the loss of eight homes, 15 outbuildings and hundreds of livestock across firegrounds, however hundreds more homes and buildings were saved due to the actions of firefighters and landholders."

The RFS and FRNSW crews from Narromine, with honorary mascot "Ollie" the pug, at the Open Day on May 13. PHOTO: Sharon Bonthuys

As winter approaches, FRNSW would like to remind residents about the importance of fire safety during the colder months.

Every winter, there are more than 1100 house fires in NSW, from which around 100 fire-related injuries occur. Over the past 12 months serious house fires occurred in Warren township (June), Baradine (June), Trangie (September) and most recently in Coonamble where a couple were lucky to escape the blaze that destroyed their home on Monday 8 May.

The Open Day set up at Narromine. PHOTO: Ewen Jones

FRNSW responded to more than 125,000 incidents in 2021-22.

Further information about winter fire safety can be found here.

Matt Cameron and retired firefighter Roger Blackwood, who served for 17 years, try out the Open Day sausage sizzle at Narromine.