CFA brigades surrounding Ballarat will open their doors to the public over the next two weeks.
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This is a key time to get fire plans ready to find out how the fire season is shaping up, so firies are suggesting people visit the stations to make sure they are ready for the summer.
Smythesdale captain Alwyn Parker said the already dry conditions made it important for people to know what they would do if fire hit.
“This is the time they really need to get their plans together,” he said.
“We’ll have fire restrictions with us in the next couple of weeks. It’s already pretty dry out there.”
Smythesdale’s open day is on Sunday, November 23. The Napoleons-Enfield brigade is open on Saturday, November 22, while Daylesford and Ballan are welcoming people this Sunday.
Daylesford Fire Brigade secretary Paul Anderson said the firefighters would put on a good show in the morning.
“We’re going to have two demonstrations going on. In the first, we’ll get a pumper out and show how we would deal with a structural fire, with the firefighters kitted up with breathing apparatuses and rescuing a dummy from the building.
“In the second, because we’re a rescue brigade, we’ll cut the doors off a car and rescue a dummy,” he said.
Mr Anderson said as well as informing people about bushfire risks, the brigade would be recruiting.
Daylesford is a local command facility, meaning it is set up as a command centre when major fires or disasters occur.
“We need lots of people who can help out, doing things like drawing maps, doing planning, tracking fires,” he said.
“We’re looking for firefighters, but also people out there who can help without going out to the fires.”
Ballarat Fire Brigade is holding off on its open day, but will go to Napoleons-Enfield with a truck.
“We’re still getting used to the renovations, so we decided not to have one this year,” brigade captain Mark Cartledge said.
“We’ll take a rescue truck down to Napoleons-Enfield on the Sunday though.”
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au
AT A GLANCE
Open days
Sunday
WHERE: Daylesford Fire Brigade, 26 Bridport Street,Daylesford
TIME: 10am to 2pm.
Structure fire demonstration 10.30am, with car rescue to follow at 11am.
WHERE: Ballan Fire Brigade
29 Fisken Street Ballan 3342
10am to 11am.
Saturday November 22
WHERE: Napoleons-Enfield Fire Brigade, Colac-Ballarat Rd, Napoleons.
TIME: 10am to 2pm.
Sunday November 23
WHERE: Smythesdale Fire Brigade, 5 Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road, Smythesdale
TIME: 10am to 3pm
