The week when Border firefighters asked for some assistance coincided with overwhelming evidence of how much these volunteers are needed.
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Lavington Rural Fire Brigade sent out 18,000 brochures to homes in Lavington, Springdale Heights, Norris Park, East Albury, West Albury and central Albury, seeking money donations to help improve their equipment.
Senior deputy captain and training officer Kathy Barnes said the deliveries went through Australia Post, unlike previous years when brigade members carried out the letter box drop.
“We couldn’t fit it in basically, everyone is just so busy these days,” she said.
“And the amount of time you spend on training and firefighting, we were struggling to be able to get enough members to deliver them.”
Just as well they avoided that task really, given Thursday, April 12 saw 21 confirmed fires across the NSW Rural Fire Service Southern Border region.
More than 550 RFS firefighters in more than 100 trucks tracked and extinguished each fire.
Mrs Barnes said all three Lavington brigade trucks responded to their calls, along with 15 to 20 members.
“Three calls in one day, people have got to work, we’re all volunteers and thanks to the employers who were able to let the people go,” she said.
Anyone who missed receiving a brochure and would like to donate can get more details from the brigade’s Facebook page.
As well as money, Lavington Rural Fire Brigade always welcomes new members.
Since November, eight junior members, aged 12 to 15 years, have been attending weekly sessions.
“We’ve always had junior members, just mixed in with the seniors, but this year we’ve actually gone that one step further,” Mrs Barnes said.
“Most of our juniors prior to this program were pretty much kids of members, but now we’ve tried to expand and get them a group a bit more their own age.”
The five girls and three boys practise hose drills, become familiar with the truck and equipment and learn radio operations.
“Exactly the same as adults would learn, we just modify it, so it’s a little bit more enjoyable, kid-friendly,” Mrs Barnes said.
Two of the junior members Blade Hurst and Sophie Barnes, both 12, plan to go out fighting fires once they’re old enough.
“Because you can help the community,” Sophie said.
Blade remembered once driving past a big hill that was on fire and seeing firefighters at work.
“They had helicopters and everything, dropping water, and it looked like fun,” the junior member said.
