As well as dedicating their time to fighting fires, the Bairnsdale Fire Brigade has a long proud history of community engagement, dating back to its origins 138 years ago.
They’re always looking for opportunities to interact with their community and know just how valuable it is to engage and educate.
Bairnsdale Captain Aaron Lee said current secretary Allan Cracknell AFSM has been running around East Gippsland for over 20 years talking to school groups, scouts and all sorts of community groups.
“Allan has run sessions like fire extinguisher displays, kinder talks, school talks, smoke house displays and has organised community visits to our station.”
The brigade’s community education activities have been taken to the next level since the arrival of younger member Ben Trotter, about 5 years ago.
“Ben has helped engage with a greater number and younger array of people in the community and has helped establish relationships with other organisations such as RoadWise,” said Aaron.
Bairnsdale member Ben said "We engage with the community through many different means; visiting many local schools and businesses and educating them in emergency evacuations and the use of firefighting applications that they have on-site.
“They rely on us to be there when circumstances are at their worst, but also it’s very important for us to engage with the community and educate to help prevent future incidents from occurring.
“Personally, I am extremely passionate and love my role within community education, both for the brigade and CFA as a whole, the more we can educate the better off the organisation will be.”
“Many brigade members have been born and bred in Bairnsdale and we as a brigade are here to serve our community first and foremost.”
Author: CFA News