Sawyers Valley Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade

This year's Emergency Services Levy budget will see the release of funding to assist with the build a new fire station for Sawyers Valley Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. The plan is to build a new three bay station on the brigade's Ashtead St block.

The brigade has already undertaken significant work to prepare the site for construction including power, water and telephone facilities.

The brigade would like the thank the work done by the shire in the submission of the ESL application and to the tireless efforts of our brigade members.

On Saturday the 5th of September, members from Sawyers Valley, Chidlow, Glen Forrest and Wooroloo Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades took part in a joint training exercise. Crews from each brigade undertook several exercises including drafting, series pumping and asset protection. Additionally, crew leaders where given the opportunity to participate as Sector Commanders, gaining valuable experience.

Thanks to all the brigade members involved, who made this such a successful training day, and congratulations to the training officers for preparing such an excellent event.

Women firefighters in NSW have complained about new thin uniforms that become see-through when wet. news.com.au Oct 19 2009

Changes to the system used for Fire Weather Warnings and Forecasts are planned to occur soon.

The volunteer fire brigades in the Mundaring Shire will be conducting a recuitment drive on the 17th of October. Members from these brigades will be providing information about volunteer brigade activities in the shire and the ever-present need for fresh members.

Sawyers Valley Brigade has agreed to provide members for the whole day. Brigade members who are interested in helping out with the recruitment drive should contact Delphine or Patrick.

Anyone interested in joining a volunteer fire brigade in the Mundaring Shire can contact Sawyers Valley Brigade or visit Volunteer.bfb.asn.au.

Ground work has nearly been completed on the site for the new station.

Thanks to all concerned.

To all members:

The brigade will be conducting a hazard reduction burn on Saturday the 1st of August, 2009. Burning will commence late in the morning and should be completed before 17:00.

Members interested in participating should contact Keith or Nick.

The brigade extends warm congratulations to Trevor and Sheree on the birth of their new son Kane Levi, born on Friday the 24th of July.

Both mum and the new bub are doing well, although the state of dad is unknown.

This month the brigade received its new computer, funded by the ESL. The machine is a HP Compaq dc7900, running Windows XP and includes a 19" HP LCD screen and a HP CP1515n colour laser printer. The brigade would like to thank the Mundaring Shire for organising these machines for all brigades in the shire.

Along with the ADSL Internet connection, the computer will be used for office administration, records keeping, GIS/mapping and incident management.

Sawyers Valley VBFB is at the forefront of providing Internet services to bush fire brigades, through the bfb.asn.au website. Additionally, the brigade is  researching systems and processes for easily and securely providing Internet and other ITS services to guest agencies during an incident. Anyone interested in finding out more about this research can contact Adrian Woodley at the brigade.

Here is a link to a two part story about Matcham Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade (NSW RFS):

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1438935/bushfire_brigade_tribute_part_1/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1438972/bushfire_brigade_tribute_part2/