Williamtown-Salt Ash Rural Fire Brigade is, as are all NSWRFS Brigades, community based.

And as such we support our community in many ways other then preserving life and property from fire.

We promote public awareness where ever possible, wether it be a school fete, community fair, shopping centre promotion, station open days or our annual community education run (nee - Santa run). These displays involve informing the community that we are here and what we do for them by handing out information. We occasionally gain a new member in this fashion but this is not our aim, more over we are promoting the Service and our interaction with the community.

Our interest in public education has strengthened over the years and we now participate in "Firewise for Kids". Over several years we have been educating the children of Williamtown and Salt Ash in a co-ordinated program to give them an initial foundation in basic fire safety at both state primary schools with good results. We have recently increased our Firewise facilitators by two and we hope after the current fire season to promote "Firewise Forums", another co-ordinated program of information and assistance to encourage residents on the urban fringes to prepare their homes - hopefully in small working groups - against the threat of bushfire with emphasis on fire safety and taking responsibility for it in their locality. This not only helps the community in living with bushfire but assists us greatly in helping them in times of bushfire. Should any one be interested in "Community Firewise" any where in NSW please ring your local Council for assistance in contacting your relevant facilitators, or ask for a brochure.

The FireWise NSW project is designed to develop and produce agreed fire safety messages by all FireWise partners. The project aims to:


1) Create strategic partnerships between government and non-government organisations that have a stake or role to play in fire incidents pre, during and post event.
2) Develop target specific programmes in concert with relevant FireWise partner(s).
3) Utilise expertise, knowledge and communication methods of the partners to provide accurate and timely information in an efficient and effective manner.
4) Establish the term “FireWise” state-wide as a readily recognised concept that alerts  everyone to the need to utilise fire safely and sensibly.                                                   
5) To reduce duplication, achieve cost savings and eliminate confusion or mixed messages.

Under the programme the RFS has developed:

a) Street FireWise (street meetings and street walks)
b) FireWise Groups (small groups facilitated by Firefighters)
c) Crime Stoppers (anti bushfire arson)
d) FireWise Alert (immediate pre impact intervention strategies)
e) FireWise Schools (resources designed for teachers, integrated with
the curriculum)
f) FireWise Farms (fire safety audits)
g) FireWise Forums (Community meetings)

BUSH FIRE PREVENTION

is everyone's responsibility