New Community Fire Units for Hornsby Heights and Mount Colah
Published: 12th September 2007
NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins today announced the establishment of two new Community Fire Units (CFU) in Hornsby Heights and Mount Colah, taking the number of CFUs in the Hornsby area to 35.Commissioner Mullins said the two new CFUs were part of the NSWFB’s ongoing commitment to local communities and the latest addition to a network of more than 350 CFUs across the state.
"Community Fire Units are made up of local volunteers who are trained and equipped to support fire services in the protection of property and assets during bushfires," Commissioner Mullins said.
"I am pleased to announce that volunteers from Tanglewood Way in Hornsby Heights and Burra Close in Mount Colah are now ready to assist their local fire service crews. They have been trained by firefighters from the NSWFB in how to protect their homes from bushfires, hazard reduction processes and general bushfire management principles.
"I congratulate these residents for their responsible and community-spirited approach. The bushfires in the Hornsby area in 1994 and 2001/02 are a reminder of the importance of bushfire safety and prevention. Members from these two new CFUs will perform a vitally important role of raising awareness locally of the dangers bushfires present," he said.
Commissioner Mullins stressed that many homes continued to be under threat from burning embers after the main front of a bushfire had passed.
"CFU members stay with their homes to monitor and extinguish any small fires that might otherwise escalate and seriously damage homes. This enables NSWFB, Rural Fire Service and National Parks fire crews to move ahead of, and attack, the main fire fronts."
Commissioner Mullins said that $2.6 million had been allocated to the ongoing establishment and support of CFUs.
The two new CFUs have each received a trailer valued at $15,000 which includes firefighting hoses, portable pumps, hydrant standpipe and fittings, safety helmets, gloves, smoke masks, goggles, boots and protective clothing, tools and a first aid kit.
For more information on CFUs visit the Community section on the NSWFB website at www.fire.nsw.gov.au, and for more information on general bushfire safety, visit the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au