Rural firefighters hone their skills in ‘real-life’ training Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 16, 2024 First place winners from the Bonville Brigade: Captain Tim Jeffery, Bailey Peadon, Sean Good, Maddison Stewart, Sarah Good, Bella Galea and Inspector Sandra Huer. RURAL Fire Service (RFS) volunteers undertook a day of extensive pre-season training on Saturday 3 August. Codenamed ‘Exercise Burnt Banana’, the training was focused on replicating real-life situations. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Brigade teams from Fernmount, Moonee, Redhill, Repton, Bonville, Sandy Beach, Megan, North Bellingen, Valery and Woolgoolga arrived early at the Raleigh Raceway precinct for a full program of simulated exercises. Coffs Coast District Inspector Sandra Huer said while the aim of the exercise was to refresh and develop skills, it also brought volunteers together in a spirit of fun and competition. “Our volunteers come from all walks of life and the thing that bonds us all together is our drive to look after our communities and enhance our skills to respond in any emergency,” Inspector Huer said. The training focused on developing key skills around electronic fire mapping, in-truck mobile data terminals, and basic water rescue techniques. Simulated training exercises included volunteers saving people from a car trapped in a waterway, and battling smoke while putting out a car fire. Fernmount Brigade Captain Kevin Johnson said his crew of five volunteers enjoyed the learning experience. “One of the exercises required us to work together with the Moonee Brigade crew to replicate how we’d operate as a strike team in a real situation. “A strike team is where a group of fire-fighting appliances and crews are deployed to respond to a large incident. “They can come from different areas and brigades so it’s highly possible they have never worked together before. “Part of the exercise is the element of surprise as we didn’t know what was happening. “Likewise, when deployed as a strike team in a real-life situation, we don’t know exactly what we are going to walk into. “We made a few mistakes while carrying out the exercise which provides a huge learning experience that will help us improve in the field.” This year, the Bonville Brigade took out the much-prized trophy. By Leigh WATSON Volunteers work to put out a car fire. Fernmount Brigade Captain Kevin Johnson. Volunteers work to put out a car fire. Volunteers simulate the rescue of a flood victim.
