Fire stations across New South Wales are throwing open their doors this Saturday, May 11 for Fire and Rescue NSW’s annual Open Day, with firefighters encouraging locals to come out and enjoy a fun day of tours and demonstrations.
According to Acting Area Commander for Western Sydney, Act. Chief Supt Michael VanDenBout, Open Day is a huge day for the organisation each year.
“It’s really important for us, because it gives us a chance to interact with the community and directly tell them about our fire safety messages and some of the services that we provide,” he said.
These messages will revolve around home fire safety checks, having working smoke alarms, and other weather-specific advice heading towards winter, including not overloading power boards, and keeping clothes a metre from the heater.
However, it’s also just a great opportunity for people to put a face and a name to the people they often see driving around in the trucks.
“It’s a really good chance to engage with our community, and give something back to them in terms of fire safety messaging and a tour of the fire station,” he said.
“I know all of our firefighters really look forward to that opportunity to engage with the community on that level, so it’s as special for us as we hope it is for them.”
Cranebrook Fire Station will be open from 10am to 2pm on the day. Although every station is slightly different, VanDenBout promises that visitors will get the full spectrum of what firefighters do.
“If you can get out to the fire station, it’s a great opportunity to see what a firefighter does,” he said.
“Firefighters do so much more than just put out fires these days – we do motor vehicle rescues, we do industrial rescues, we have aviation units now, and we assist the SES and the RFS with bushfires and floods and other emergencies.
“It’s just a great opportunity to really find out what it is to be a firefighter.”
This year, instead of being held at the Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills, the largest Open Day event will be held at Penrith’s Museum of Fire.
Though she doesn’t think their event will truly replace that of the Emergency Services Academy, Museum of Fire CEO Belinda McMartin said that it’s a great opportunity for the venue, particularly given this year’s significant milestone.
“Open Day is a great opportunity for us to work with FRNSW to promote both fire safety but also the history of FRNSW which this year celebrates 140 years,” she said.
“The Museum is the official heritage partner to FRNSW so it is great that we can host an Open Day event.”
McMartin promises there will be something for everyone on the day.
“First up we will be joined by Marshall and Chase from PAWPatrol which is enough to make any child excited!” she said.
“There will also be demonstrations of FRNSW capabilities including a kitchen fire simulator, road crash rescue and a visit from the K9 team. Outback Steakhouse will also be on site to help raise funds for Beat the Burn which raises funds for the Burn’s Unit at the Children’s Hospital Westmead.”
For more information, visit www.fire.nsw.gov.au.
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.
