Sun shines on Fire and Rescue station open day

Narrabri Fire and Rescue opened its station doors to the public on Saturday for its annual open day.

The open day is a state-wide initative, enabling the community to understand about the important role Fire and Rescue plays in local communities.

For children, it’s a chance to see the service’s fire trucks and equipment up close, however, the open days convey an important message about fire safety.

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the open day is an opportunity to show people that firefighters do so much more than fight fires.

“Open day is really about inviting the community to come along to their local fire station to meet with firefighters and find out more about the job they do,” Comm Baxter said.

“Our crews don’t just put out fires. They attend road crashes, deal with hazardous materials, save animals and are prepared for anything and ready to help at anytime.”

Comm Baxter said the open day helps to showcase these attributes to the community and educate them about key home safety messages.

“This year we are focussing on the importance of ‘Sounding the Alarm’ and making sure that we all check the smoke alarm inside our own home and make sure that it is working,” he said.

“Each year, approximately 20 people die in NSW from fires that could have been prevented.

“Open day allows you to speak to local firefighters about what safety measures to take leading into winter and also give you the opportunity to book in a free home safety visit from your local station.”

Fire and Rescue NSW has a winter fire safety checklist, with important information regarding smoke alarms, escape plans, fireplaces and chimneys, heaters, electric blankets and wheat bags.

Important advice includes ensuring smoke alarms are tested and working, having a home escape plan, ensuring fireplaces and chimneys are regularly cleaned, placing fire screens in front of open fires for protection, ensuring everything is kept at least a metre away from a heater, ensuring electric blankets are rolled (not folded) for storage, check any electric blankets for damage and ensuring wheat bags are used properly.