Heroes fired up for station open day

Budding young firefighters will have the chance to meet some local heroes this weekend with Bribie Island Fire and Rescue Station opening its doors to the community on Saturday.

As part of the open day, children and adults will be able to peek inside the trucks, see all the gear firefighters use when they attend emergencies, watch a kitchen fire demonstration, and learn important fire safety messages.

It will also be an opportunity for those who are interested in becoming a paid auxiliary (on-call) firefighter to have a chat with the crew and learn more about the role.

Auxiliary Grade 2 firefighter Ron Bowtell says the open day will provide a glimpse into their job and the kind of emergencies they attend.

“The open day is about bringing the community together to show them what we do, because we work for the community,” Ron says.

“This is your opportunity to look inside the fire station, look at our trucks, check out all the gear we have and learn what we use for different jobs and scenarios.

“We will also be bringing in some other trucks from other regions, including a 40m aerial telescopic, which is like a bigger cherry picker.

“The kids love getting up close to all the big trucks and seeing the hose working, so they will definitely have a blast.”

There will also be a sausage sizzle on the day.

To see more photos, click through the gallery below. 

Important safety messages

Lieutenant Alex Heather from Bribie Island Fire and Rescue Station says several safety demonstrations will also be held on Saturday,

“During the open day, we will be running our kitchen simulator every 30 minutes so we can show people what they need to do if a fire breaks out while cooking. This includes showing people how to use a fire blanket, how to extinguish the fire with just a lid, and what would happen if you put water on an oil fire,” Alex says.

With the weather starting to warm up, and the Christmas holidays just a few months away, Alex says now is a good time to remind people about other important safety messages which could save lives.

“Winter is almost gone, so if you have an electric blanket, make sure it is stored away properly for next year,” Alex says.

“Now I know we don’t like to think about it just yet, but Christmas will be here before we know it, so when the time does come for you to get your Christmas lights out of storage, make sure they are in good condition before putting them up.

“Check to see none of the bulbs are broken, the cables aren’t frayed, and don’t overload the power boards.

“Make sure the decoration lights are for either indoor or outdoor use because moisture from the air can get inside the indoor lights when they are placed outside and can cause a fire.”

Head on down

The Bribie Island Fire and Rescue Station will be open to the public from 10am-2pm on Saturday, August 5.

The station is at 12 Faraday St, Bellara.