Join in ... with the Country Fire Service’s region three operations brigade
Sarah Lance invites you to join a volunteer group which plays an important role in responding to emergencies
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When an emergency arises, at a compound on Murray Bridge’s east side, a volunteer team springs into action.
A map of the Murraylands, Mallee and Riverland covers one wall at the Country Fire Service’s region three headquarters; screens on the walls show weather patterns, truck locations and other information; and radio chatter fills an adjacent room.
Working among them all are members of the region three operations brigade.
The brigade exists not to hold hoses, but to do the behind-the-scenes work that helps our firefighters get the job done.
Each Thursday night, they get together to keep their skills sharp, do a practice exercise, or build the camaraderie that will serve them well when the pressure is on.
One of those volunteers, Sarah Lance, took the time to explain the role to Murray Bridge News.
To express an interest in sponsoring this feature, email jane@murraybridge.news.
When did you get involved with the CFS?
Ten years ago. For the first couple of years, the first four years, I was with the Department for Environment – that’s where I learnt about it. I really enjoyed the camaraderie, the feeling of responsibility and working together, and when I left, I couldn’t leave that feeling, so I put my hand up to be a volunteer.
What do you do every week?
It’s really variable. During the fire season we have a lot of jobs that involve making sure that the resources are ready: making sure IT is ready, manning the radios, being situationally aware. On total fire ban days we activate – that means we’re basically sitting here, ready, in case anything goes wrong. We watch until we have to act.
When we act, we can do so many things. My job is planning and situational awareness: keeping an eye on the weather forecast and where the fire might go, what we might need to do in six hours, the next 12 hours or the next day. I find that really challenging when we get to the big ones. There’s such potential for impact and so many ways you can bring people together to help.
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What do you get out of your involvement?
One of my first fires, we were going onto a night shift as a convoy, and when we pulled up at a soccer ground in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, just to go to the toilet, we got off those trucks and we got a standing ovation from the soccer team.
When you’re in the CFS, you’re giving to the community, but there’s so much love and respect you get back. It is a really good feeling. I’ve had people walk up to me as I’m leaving my house and thank me for my service and I haven’t even gone to do anything just yet. But that’s why I do it – because I want to help people and I love the feeling I get from helping people.
Do you have a standout memory of your with the CFS?
It was my first rotation on Kangaroo Island, where I was again working on night shift, and I worked five days straight with very little sleep in really harsh, hot, challenging conditions. I made it to the end, I did my job well, and when I got home to my house, I told my husband what I’d done and was asleep in five minutes. I woke up the next morning and went “I can’t believe that I could achieve that”. It totally changes how you view what you actually can do, because you have to push yourself.
What’s your goal as a CFS volunteer?
I’d probably like to see a larger operations brigade with more people in it, to be quite honest. We need more people who’ve got a whole range of skills to be able to get involved in this stuff. Nobody knows (about us). You say you’re a firefighter and they think you hold a hose.
Why should people join the CFS’ region three operations brigade?
It’s challenging. It’s fun. It gets your adrenaline going … And when you talk to your friends at dinner parties, they’re going to be suitably impressed. And you get a really cool uniform.
- Contact: Text “join” to 0417 361 444, call 8532 6800 or fill in the form at data.eso.sa.gov.au/enquiry-cfs.
- Who can join: Anyone over the age of 18.
- Where to go: SA Country Fire Service region three headquarters, 11-17 Kennett Road, Murray Bridge East.
- When to go: 7.30pm on Thursdays for training.
- What you need: An up-to-date police check; all training and equipment provided.
- More information: To find out about volunteering with the CFS, visit cfs.sa.gov.au; or for the operations brigade, visit www.fire-brigade.asn.au.
Correction: Training is on Thursdays.
To express an interest in promoting your community or sporting club with a Join In feature, email peri@murraybridge.news. To express an interest in sponsoring this feature, email jane@murraybridge.news.
Stories create community. You can help Murray Bridge News tell our community’s stories.
