Former Captain Ewen Jones has hung up his helmet after almost 32 years of service to Fire and Rescue NSW in Narromine and surrounds. 

Speaking to the Western Plains App Mr Jones said “You get to a point when you have had enough of what you were doing”. 

“As any emergency worker is unfortunately exposed to fatalities and it starts to get to you after a while”. 

Mr Jones, who has been a steadfast presence during numerous local fire incidents including Mungeribar Manor, Imperial Hotel, Motorbike shop, and a two-day HAZMAT incident at Narromine High School, said there was one particular incident that continues to play on his mind - the tragic death of a nine-year-old girl. 

He said Fire and Rescue NSW had good support through peers, chaplains and counselling, but he has just had enough. 

PHOTO: Ewen and Skye Jones. Image: the Daily Telegraph. 

“It stays imprinted on your brain, and you talk about it and you just re-experience it”. 

“In the end I was physically and mentally buggered. I had to wean myself bit by bit and trained people up gradually to become captain”. 

He said he looked back on his years as a firefighter with a mixture of different emotions. 

“There have been plenty of good times. It was good when you get a cat out of a tree, or getting pups out of sewer drains. Its good when you can do that stuff. It was good going to schools and talking to kids about fire safety. It was good going to change fire alarms for old people”. 

Speaking candidly, Mr Jones said another contributing factor to why he left was ongoing disappointment with what he perceived as the poor attitude of some of the younger people joining the Fire and Rescue team. 

“I find many among the younger generation are more entitled and more money focused." 

Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders acknowledged Mr Jones and congratulated him on his career. 

PHOTO: Fires in Walgett. Image: Nine media. 

Mr Jones told the Western Plains the circumstances surrounding the death of an emergency service worker north of Walgett this week were “tragic”. 

“Emergency service personnel put their lives on the line. They pay the ultimate sacrifice. Every time you walk through the door you don’t know how it's going to end up…the two big things that kill firefighters are electricity and collapse”. 

“You have a task in front of you and want to finish that task, and you're not always focused on the dangers around you”. 

The 62-year-old said his focus now would be on his work as councillor with the Narromine Shire Council. 



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