Tomerong Rural Fire Brigade
Under Construction
About the Tomerong RFS:
Our local Fire Service currently has around 25 active members – all of whom are volunteers. It is always on the lookout for additional men and women members, especially those in the younger age bracket . Prospective members can contact the Fire Chief or just go along to the regular RFS meeting which is held each second Monday at the Fire Shed in Hawken Road (just south of the School of Arts Hall) starting at 7:30 p.m. Initial training for volunteers is covered in a ‘basic’ course over 3 or 4 nights followed by Practical work. As well as this, RFS personnel undertake a training day once a month.
How the service is funded: The Fire Shed was built from donations from the local community and this is also the source for its maintenance – there is a donations collection facility in the Tomerong General Store. Donations are bolstered from the profits from the monthly ‘sausage sizzle’ held on Tomerong Market day. The continued financial support of the local community through donations will ensure that our Rural Fire Service can continue to provide a first class service to the whole of the Tomerong area.
The service also conducts a general mail drop every two years or so to report on their activities and to directly request donations of support.
The service now has two fire trucks (‘appliances’) which are stored in the Fire Shed and these are maintained by the Shoalhaven Council. The Council is also fairly generous to the RFS when needed.
Hazard Reduction Burns: The name ‘Tomerong’ comes from the local name for ‘tall trees’ of which the area has an abundance. Whilst this is rally attractive most of the time, it can present a potential fire threat in the hot summer period. The dramatic fires of the 2001/2002 Christmas period are an example.
Steps which should be taken to reduce any possible bushfire threat include:
Where there is a fairly large amount of material, and especially where this may be close to buildings, the you may want to plan a Hazard Reduction Burn. Where this is in the designated Fire Control period (for Tomerong, this is from 1st September to Easter each year) the following steps should be taken:
For larger Burn-offs on your property contact the Tomerong RFS directly – Fire Chief is Doug Shutz (4443 4600). There may be a charge for this service as it would probably be attended to using an appliance and a number of fire-fighters.
Emergency calls: If you notice an uncontrolled fire which you feel should be reported then call Emergency Services on 000. They will pass it across to the Wollongong RFS which will, in turn, pass it across to the relevant RFS. This number should also be used to contact the Police or an Ambulance.
The Tomerong RFS has a proud history in that it has been adjudged the top Rural Fire Service over a number of years at the annual NSW Fire Service games. The large number of trophies they have one fills a large but crowded Trophy cabinet in the Fire Shed. In fact, our local service has been so successful that the games are no longer being held because the winner was a foregone conclusion.
The Tomerong Rural Fire Service (RFS) is part of the NSW Rural Fire Service which is the world's largest fire service with around 70,000 volunteer members providing emergency services to over 95 percent of the state.
For further information on fire safety in rural areas go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
About the Tomerong RFS:
Our local Fire Service currently has around 25 active members – all of whom are volunteers. It is always on the lookout for additional men and women members, especially those in the younger age bracket . Prospective members can contact the Fire Chief or just go along to the regular RFS meeting which is held each second Monday at the Fire Shed in Hawken Road (just south of the School of Arts Hall) starting at 7:30 p.m. Initial training for volunteers is covered in a ‘basic’ course over 3 or 4 nights followed by Practical work. As well as this, RFS personnel undertake a training day once a month.
How the service is funded: The Fire Shed was built from donations from the local community and this is also the source for its maintenance – there is a donations collection facility in the Tomerong General Store. Donations are bolstered from the profits from the monthly ‘sausage sizzle’ held on Tomerong Market day. The continued financial support of the local community through donations will ensure that our Rural Fire Service can continue to provide a first class service to the whole of the Tomerong area.
The service also conducts a general mail drop every two years or so to report on their activities and to directly request donations of support.
The service now has two fire trucks (‘appliances’) which are stored in the Fire Shed and these are maintained by the Shoalhaven Council. The Council is also fairly generous to the RFS when needed.
Hazard Reduction Burns: The name ‘Tomerong’ comes from the local name for ‘tall trees’ of which the area has an abundance. Whilst this is rally attractive most of the time, it can present a potential fire threat in the hot summer period. The dramatic fires of the 2001/2002 Christmas period are an example.
Steps which should be taken to reduce any possible bushfire threat include:
- keeping eaves and gutters free from dead leaves,
- gathering up dead material and either taking it to the tip or burning it – being careful that the burn-off is well away from the house and other buildings and that it is tended throughout with a hose ready should it get out of hand.
Where there is a fairly large amount of material, and especially where this may be close to buildings, the you may want to plan a Hazard Reduction Burn. Where this is in the designated Fire Control period (for Tomerong, this is from 1st September to Easter each year) the following steps should be taken:
- initially make an application for this through the NSW Rural Fire Service website ( ) and/or the Shoalhaven Council ( ). After registering this, they will then pass this over to the Tomerong RFS. The Council performs an overall assessment of burn-off activities each year to determine their effectiveness.
- the local RFS maintains an overall area Burn plan for the Tomerong area and will link it in with that.
- the applicant will be contacted by the local team to organise the actual burning.
For larger Burn-offs on your property contact the Tomerong RFS directly – Fire Chief is Doug Shutz (4443 4600). There may be a charge for this service as it would probably be attended to using an appliance and a number of fire-fighters.
Emergency calls: If you notice an uncontrolled fire which you feel should be reported then call Emergency Services on 000. They will pass it across to the Wollongong RFS which will, in turn, pass it across to the relevant RFS. This number should also be used to contact the Police or an Ambulance.
The Tomerong RFS has a proud history in that it has been adjudged the top Rural Fire Service over a number of years at the annual NSW Fire Service games. The large number of trophies they have one fills a large but crowded Trophy cabinet in the Fire Shed. In fact, our local service has been so successful that the games are no longer being held because the winner was a foregone conclusion.
The Tomerong Rural Fire Service (RFS) is part of the NSW Rural Fire Service which is the world's largest fire service with around 70,000 volunteer members providing emergency services to over 95 percent of the state.
For further information on fire safety in rural areas go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
Shoalhaven Fire Service,
Tomerong Volunteer Brigade
