This Get Ready Weekend our Brigade will be `on-show’  on the corner of Tugalong & Canyonleigh Roads on Saturday 19 September between 9am and 2pm.

Please stop for a chat or to ask our trained volunteers for some local bush fire advice.

• Free BBQ sausages
• Talk to a trained and experienced RFS member about your Bush Fire Plan
• Free giveaways and info packs
• Talk to us about volunteering with RFS
• Arrange an on-site Brigade visit to review your property and plans

Just a few minutes of your time could be worth a whole lot more than you realise, so please join us – even if its just for a free sausage sanga and a quick chat.

If you live in Canyonleigh, you live in a bush fire prone area. The RFS is here to assist in so many ways.

Can’t make it on the Saturday morning?

If you can’t make it on Saturday 19^th, we’re only too happy to meet with you on your property to discuss the upcoming season, tips and hints on bush fire preparedness and check your property and assets that could be at risk?

Preparing your property for bush fire season can be daunting. Here’s a few things to consider:

• Is my bush fire plan ready?
• What should I do to get myself, my family and my home, sheds and assets ready in case of a fire?
• What should I pack when I have to leave on a catastrophic day?
• What should I do for my pets and livestock?
• Will I stay and defend or will I leave?

When can I have a visit? Most weekends during September 2026 (midweek visits can be arranged if needs be). Please note if we do visit we expect some follow up action on your behalf. Talk does not protect you or your property only planning and preparation will

How long will it take? Dependent upon your situation, visits require a minimum of 20 minutes.

What will you do? We will discuss your bush fire plan, take a walk around your home and sheds to highlight any areas of concern and leave you with a bush fire planning kit and a list of suggested tasks.

How do I organise a visit? Email us at canyonleighrfs@outlook with a preferred date(s) and time(s) and we will get back to you with a confirmation.

Please take the time to consider our valuable offer.

Since 2011 Canyonleigh First Responders (CFR- a section of the New South Wales SES) have attended over 250 call-outs to assist community members with medical assistance, including support for numerous air evacuations. They have attended calls in all weather, at all times of the day and night and have traversed dirt tracks and paddocks. As a community, Canyonleigh has a reliance on this essential service. Having a CFR unit within the community provides a sense of reassurance, knowing that trained help is close at hand during a medical emergency. 

The CFR welcomes new members and, should viable membership in this vital service drop, it could be withdrawn. The consequences?  No emergency medical assistance until an ambulance arrives from Bowral or medevac helicopter. From dialling 000, this could be a gap of 45 minutes or more. In most instances, the CFR can respond in around 15 minutes or less.  That time-difference can make or break the patient’s chances in a worst-case scenario.

If you do decide to volunteer for this critical and worthwhile service, here’s your pathway, after you register with SES to become a member (and go through the usual checks), here’s the training schedule:

Self-led online eLearning, plus face-to-face training at either 5 x Tuesday evening sessions of 1.5 hours, or one Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

Then you train with NSW Ambulance:

Self-led online eLearning, plus face-to-face training over three weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) with a 10-week break between the training weekend.

After the first weekend of training, you will be allowed to attend callouts with a qualified member.

The NSW Ambulance training’s foundation is the same as a normal first aid course, but it is enhanced so that you have increased confidence to apply the first aid skills and to allow the safe administration of a small number of drugs and oxygen.

There are no set rosters or minimum number of hours of availability for members. We give what we can. Each weekend we simply update our availability for the coming week in an online calendar. If there is inadequate member coverage at any time (we need a minimum of two members), the unit goes offline for that time.

CFR is urgently seeking new recruits able to commit to a very fulfilling opportunity to make a real difference in the Canyonleigh community. Volunteers will learn new skills and be a member of a professional and dedicated team. CFR averages between one and two call outs each month and has the satisfaction of knowing that the treatment they provide ahead of an ambulance could just prove the difference in a patient’s well being and future.

The CFR is not asking too much of your time and will work in with your priorities. We have RFS members who have joined the CFR, but we need other members of Canyonleigh to step-up and support the community. While we never hope it happens to you, imagine what it would be like if you had to dial 000 for an ambulance, then had to wait 45 minutes or more for an ambulance to arrive?

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

Speak with a Canyonleigh CFR Member. Call Koos Kruger on 0422 690 115 or mail Koos at andries.kruger@member.ses.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Rural Fire Service already involves itself with indigenous cultures and representation with a range of operational and communications activities. Our Brigade took it a step further to develop a vehicle that not only reflects the RFS’ values, but to make a more `Canyonleigh’ statement.

The Brigade’s Captain, Brett, wondered how to create a statement that combines community and environment with RFS values and Canyonleigh’s unique institutions and society. Add to this locale’s strong historical and cultural ties to the Gundungurra and Dharawal Aboriginal people.

The Brigade’s executive met to discuss and develop a brief for the commissioning of Brett’s idea of a unique piece of art focussing on these community aspects and how to best deliver the piece.

The Brigade liaised with the local indigenous representative (Aunty Sharon Halls) who highly recommended a local First Nations artist, Helen Abbott, who had an understanding of the area and had undertaken commissions from local entities.

Helen’s brief was `simple’: to create an artwork that reflects:

• The link/importance of the local environment
• Recognition of traditional owners
• The importance of the Brigade and the Canyonleigh community

That was late 2025 – to realise the project, private funding was required to bring the project to reality. We needed a patron!

We are pleased and proud to say that Warwick Parer from the Southern Highlands Addiction Rereat (SHAR), a Canyonleigh business, had no hesitation in funding the project.

Helen was able to execute the painting in a timeframe that suited all parties and an unveiling event was planned for Saturday 16 May at the Canyonleigh Fire Shed.

Guests that embody the community and environment were invited including the Canyonleigh Community Association, Hall Committee, SES/First Responders, National Parks & Wildlife Service, Bush Care, RFS, First Nations people and sponsoring organisation SHAR.

The event commenced with a very warm Welcome To Country from Aunty Sharon Halls who reiterated Canyonleigh’s close ties with First Nations people and their history in the area. Brett, then explained to the gathered guests the values the RFS and Brigade have developed and implemented, how the concept for the painting was developed and how the Brigade played its role as a member of the environment and community. Brett also recognised the very important contribution that our community and environmental organisations play that makes Canyonleigh a unique place.

He then handed over the unveiling duties to SHAR’s General Manager, Ben Moller. Before lifting the veil to reveal the artwork, Ben recognised the initiatives of the community and how SHAR also shares values similar the Brigade and community and sponsoring this particular project fell withing their community principles.

Ben then removed the veil (a RFS flag) to reveal a vibrant, colourful and hi-impact painting entitled “Seeds and Root Systems”, much to the acceptance and applause from the invited guests.

Now revealed, artist Helen Abbot to share with the guests her interpretation of the brief.

“This painting reflects ideas of community, interconnection and Country, grounded in the landscape of Gundungurra Country.” said Helen.

Helen explained that the colour palette draws from elements found within that environment: the deep purples of the Hardenbergia flower, the resilient native vine whose dense, interwoven root systems suggest strength through connection; the soft greys of gum trees and koalas; and the warm reds and oranges of ochre embedded in the land.  

“Through these elements, the artwork aims to evoke a sense of belonging and engagement with Country, highlighting the layered connections between landscape, story and community.” She added.

Following Helen’s presentation, RFS District Manager, Superintendent Daniel Osborne, congratulated the Brigade and the Canyonleigh community on such an impressive initiative.

” The NSW Rural Fire Service currently implements a range of initiatives to associate itself, its members and their communities with the traditions, beliefs and lifestyles of our First Nation’s people. The RFS has implemented `cool burning’ practices as demonstrated by aboriginal history, aboriginal-style emblems and motifs on RFS vehicles and a range of indigenous events.” said Daniel.

To celebrate the event, the Superintendent also announced the brigade’s new CAT 7 Fire Truck will soon feature First Nations artwork as a part of its livery.

Following formalities, guests enjoyed an opportunity to share light refreshments and an opportunity to mingle and discuss community and environmental issues.

As Seeds and Root Systems is very much a community asset, community members and guests will be able to view the artwork until the end of August at Audrey’s Café before it is permanently displayed at the Canyoneligh RFS Fire Shed

Under the prevailing wind conditions the fire spread in a north-westerly direction and `spotted’ to the west, quickly growing to some 22 hectares. On the first eventing crews from the Canyonleigh brigade were joined by brigades including Avoca, Big Hill, Colo Vale, Bundanoon and Middle Arm.

With limited success, the first responding brigades were able to slow the fire’s progress during the evening as conditions improved and winds died down, however, the fire was still on the march.

The following Wednesday morning, the fire had grown to some 40 plus hectares and had moved into steep and undulating, rocky terrain with a major sector inaccessible from the ground.

The potential significance of the Hawkshill Road fire did not go without major concern from RFS and NPWS. Had adverse conditions arose, the fire’s potential to grow was significant.

The response on the Wednesday included crews from Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, Cumberland and Macarthur regions and National Park Fire Crews. Brigades on the ground were also supported from the air by Large Air Tankers (LAT), helicopters and earthmoving equipment. A Helibase and resources were established at an airfield on Tugalong Road – minutes from the fireground.

A full manifest of brigades and support vehicles is included at the end of this article.

Following detailed briefing undertaken at the Canyonleigh Fire Shed each morning prior to moving onto the fireground, instructions were to prevent impact on any communities and the nearby Kerrawarry Nature Reserve, undertake close containment, black-out and mop up with the fire to be at patrol status on or before 13 December.

The fireground was broken into three sectors, with brigades allocated to each sector under a nominated sector leader. Air assets, including the Marie Bashir LAT, strategically dropped retardants on containment lines, while helicopters with buckets pinpointed actual hot spots.

To ensure brigades were able to access all sectors safely, and to get closer to the fire, a bulldozer was used to cut new trails and to remediate the unmaintained Ditley Fire Trail.

The significant efforts by RFS brigades and resources on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday bought the incident under control. Late on the Thursday all brigades were released and the assets and staff at the helibase were also released. Patrolling the site and blacking-out any last `smokers’ was left to the Canyonleigh Brigade. On Tuesday 16 the Hawkshill Road fire was officially declared is extinguished.

In terms of a major bush fire event, the Hawkshill Road event was quickly contained and managed by the sheer number of assets the RFS managed to enlist to `jump onto a fire’ that could have has serious consequences should weather conditions changed.

For the Canyonleigh Brigade, the event showed how well structured its operational structure is: we had a large number of volunteers (in rotation) on the fireground (2 full crews each day), our shed was open to assist with RFS administration, assembly points and open to any member of the public that wanted to discuss the event with a brigade member. Likewise, our social media feeds kept the community abreast of the fire’s management, advice and status and responded to any concerned enquiries. Over the 4 main days of the event, social media posts on the Canyonleigh RFS Facebook page attracted some 90,000 plus views. In fact, an image of the fire taken by our Captain at night captured 21,645 views!

Over the six days of the Hawkshill Fire, the following members were involved:

Brett Bannerman, Peter Attreed, Ben Willersdorf, Luke Willersdorf, Frances Crown, Lisa McGrath, James McGrath, Paul Huggan, Rob Platt, Jasper Pendlebury, Jenny Maddocks, Greg Hook, Helen Phillips, Terry Biscoe, Claudia Douglas, Jeff Cohen, Chloe Smith.

For a number of volunteers, this was their first bush fire incident – and they were great!

RFS resources for this event were significant, and we thank the Brigades and their volunteers for their time and magnificent efforts. The Hawkshill Road fire was managed by Divisional Commander, Group Captain, Peter Lockerbie with support from Group Captain Andrew Neale.

Southern Highlands

Canyonleigh                     Mittagong                           Tahmoor

Wilton                                  Wingello                           Pheasants Nest

Berrima                               Colo Vale                            Avoca

Bundanoon

Moss Vale

Penrose

Southern Tablelands

Goulburn                            Parkesbourne                   Taralga

Middle Arm                        Big Hill                                 Wallaroo

Marulan

Cumberland/Macarthur

Georges River                  Marsden Park

Macarthur                        Eastern Creek

National Parks

2 x Fire Crews

Aviation

Helicopters (bucket) x 2

LAT x 2

Aviation Fuel Truck

Ground Crew & facilities

Other

Southern Highlands Bulk Water Tanker

Some 6 x PCs (Personnel Carriers)

RFS Catering and Support

The HR had been planned by RFS for some twelve months prior, awaiting the right conditions for burning. It was some ten years since a HR was conducted on Quigg Reserve and fuel loads had grown significantly over that period.

The HR was also a great opportunity for newer members from the Canyonleigh Brigade to experience a controlled fire for the first time. In fact, quite a few RFS volunteers that attended the event had yet to experience a large volume of fire, smoke and the `hard slog’ that goes with a planned burn.

Our brigade was joined by teams and trucks from Bundanoon, Exeter, Mt Hunter, Thirlmere, Tahmoor and Alpine. Vehicles included eleven trucks including Cat 1s, Cat 7s, Cat 9s, PCs and the area’s Bulk Water Truck – so we were well resourced.

Whilst the local Mitigation Team had prepared much of the site several months prior, teams had to prep the site’s perimeter including removal of fuel from around trees and laying wet lines in preparation for ignition.  Ignition commenced at approximately 10am with drip torch lines creating a 6 metre edge around the site.

The site was divided into four sectors (north, south, east and west) with crews and crew leaders allocated strategically.

From a local perspective, brigade members Frances, Jenny, Terry, Ben, Rob, Jasper and Brett crewed both trucks during the day. Together with the other eleven crews the burn was completed by 3.00pm. Due to recent rains the very `green’ nature of the vegetation some 60% of the site was burnt –  a bit patchy but still pretty good. And a BIG thank you to RFS Support for providing lunch for the hungry crews.

On Saturday night Deputy Captain Ben and volunteer Chloe patrolled the site extinguishing or securing some `candle trees’. On the Sunday Canyonleigh members Ben, Jenny, Rob and Brett mopped up using almost every tool on the truck including the small portable pump which provided water from a perennial creek in the centre of the site. Using a bit of on-the-spot ingenuity, the team used a flexible knapsack to create a `dam’ in the creek to draught water.

On the final day of the event, a crew consisting of Ben, Rob and Jenny patrolled the site for the final time: finding just one hot spot and reporting the HR complete.

Many thanks to our volunteers, the crews from all the brigades that lent a hand, the team of Group Captains who directed the HR and to the many Canyonleigh residents surrounding the site.

At an event held at Canyonleigh’s Audrey’s Café, Mark was farewelled with tributes from our current Captain Brett Bannerman and personal tributes from past Captain John Kay, current Secretary Terry Biscoe and Jessica Bannerman who sent a very sincere message that was warmly received by Mark and those in attendance: “You have been such a wonderful role model. You’ve always been calm, reliable, present, and in perpetual good spirits – no matter what may have been going on in your life.”

Also in attendance, and spending time with Mark to discuss the past was our longest serving member, Ron Stahl together with his wife Charlotte. Ron has been a member since the 1970s and has been Captain and President of the brigade for many years.  Mark was recognised for his significant service to the brigade, his support and mentoring and as a unique friend to the brigade’s many members. Over his career Mark was awarded the National Emergency Medal, Premier’s Emergency Citation and an RFS Long Service Medal.

In recognition of his commitment, a specially produced book featuring images of Mark and Brigade call-outs (including images from the 2019/20 Black Summer Fires) was presented by our Captain and his own `personal toy Fire Truck’ to remember the brigade. And many thanks to the Brigade’s Pastry Chef (Rob Platt) who baked an amazing cake to share!

While Mark has stepped down from his official roles with the Brigade, he said he is only too happy to lend his support if and when its needed.

After an extremely busy spring period where the brigade attended ten escaped burns and a major incident, the summer of 23/24 has been very quiet – to say the least, however, we haven’t been in hibernation. Following a HUGE Christmas party, and a quiet new year, many members of the brigade took advantage of simulated fire and property protection training in February. Members, new and experienced, attended a simulated bush fire approaching Canyonleigh, prepared a property for defending once the fire arrived and participated in a very cramped overrun drill. Developed and directed by Deputy Captain Robyn Wilson, members had to cut firelines with rake-hoes and backpack blower. Hoses and pumps were attached to fire trucks and water tanks, set-up and readied, areas of concern were identified and prepared.  Then, using a driptorch, create a fire-line. But just before lighting up they had to rescue a member that had heat stroke and had collapsed in the bush! The event was an outstanding success and was especially beneficial to our new recruits yet to attend a live incident (but they will).  Another simulated incident will be staged in March – and this time we will be on trucks around the Canyonleigh area.

In addition to brigade training exercises, we conducted Bush Fire Training for two new members: Luke and Graham on two consecutive Saturdays in February – assessment soon.

Here is a range of images from our Xmas Party, brigade training and BF training.

Following a recruitment day held at the fire shed, 13 of the 18 members (four of the new members to complete BF in 2024) committed to online and practical training in record time – to be ready for the 2023/24 fire season. With two full days of training, combined with several days of refresher courses, our 13 new members were ready for full assessment on Saturday 21 October. With the help of three qualified assessors, two Group Captains and three Canyonleigh members the four and a half hour assessment put our new members through a number of exercises and theory lessons to `test their metal’. The result – all 13 members passed with flying colours!

Congratulations to: Annie Armstrong, her husband Bruce Fox and son Oscar Fox (another family group), Dave and Tatiana Kirkland, Robert Platt & Jenny Maddocks, brother and sister James and Lisa McGrath, Chloe Smith, Emily Greenslade, Robert Smith and Helen Phillips.

Looks like the Canyonleigh Rural Fire Brigade has a long future ahead with the help of our newest recruits!

The bush fire season of 2019-2020 will be remembered as a time of devastating fires, property loss and, unfortunately, the loss of many lives including RFS volunteers, New South Wales residents and overseas firefighters.  Whilst we were not physically impacted, the brigade was actively involved in a range of activities including fire fighting, property protection, back burning and patrolling, community consultation and community communication.

And so it began ……..

The bush fire season for New South Wales arrived extremely early – large fires in northern and north western areas of the state took authorities by surprise – fires burnt hotter, moved faster and were completely unpredictable.

In early November, the Brigade’s Captain, Brett Bannerman, volunteered for deployment to these fires and was posted to the Glen Innes area. As part of a Remote Area Crew, Brett worked with local brigades and was involved in a range of intense bush firefighting activities including front line fire fighting, property protection, resident evacuation, planned back burning and, as Brett said ‘learning more about bush fire fighting in a few short days than ever before’.  The lessons Brett learnt fighting these fires were brought back and implemented on the fire grounds of the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires in the Wollondilly, Highland and Upper Lachlan LGA areas. During November, Brett was also deployed to the fires at Square Rock and Bucketty, again with Remote Area Crews.

The first local fire of the season started at Brayton along the Wollondilly River – both the Cat1 and Cat7, with crews were dispatched to assist brigades from Marulan, Tallong, Penrose, Bundanoon, Hill Top and Exeter. FDR was Very High, high temps and a strong westerly wind.  Cause of fire: campers that did not extinguish their campfire. Size – 5 hectares.

The season starts to ramp-up

On Tuesday 26th November following the passage of a violent electrical storm two fires were detected early the next morning. These fires were named the ‘Twin Peak’ and ‘Green Wattle Creek’ fires.

Remote Area Firefighters from the NSW RFS and NPWS were winched and flown into the area (including Brett) to assist in bringing the fires under control. Hotter conditions during the afternoon and increased fire activity required all fire fighters to be extracted. The use of aircraft increased and several runs by the Very Large Tankers (VLAT’s) were carried out slowing down the progress of the fire.

On Thursday 28th November the two fires had merged and this fire maintained the name of the ‘Green Wattle Creek’ fire now increasing in size to approximately 890 ha. Large volumes of smoke drifted to the east and impacted on large areas of the Wollondilly Shire. A letter box drop was arranged for residents of Nattai and parts of Oakdale.

The efforts of the aerial resources slowed the progress of the fire to the east however it increased to the south and south-west and the fire as at Friday morning was 2133 ha in size.

A section 44 Bush Fire Emergency was declared at 8.00am ON 29 November by the NSW RFS Commissioner.

Green Wattle Creek (approx 300,000 hectares burnt) and Morton Fires (approx. 23,000 hectares burnt).

Period which brigade was active on a daily basis: 1 December, 2019 to 13 January 2020

Brigade was represented on 41 days by 18 different people contributing a total of 123 people days.

The Canyonleigh Brigade undertook a range of tasks over this intense period. These included (but were not limited to) firefighting of bush, grass and structures, back burning, property protection, blacking-out perimeter lines, day and night patrols, strike team participation, community consultation, property preparation, RAFT Team (Remote Area Firefighting Team) deployment into difficult terrain, review and remediation & maintenance of fire trails in the Canyonleigh area including bull dozer supervision and direction,  service, repair and maintenance.

Whilst there were no fires in the Canyonleigh area (the Green Wattle Fire was within 400m of our Northern boundary), the Brigade was deployed in both immediate locations and out of area. As with all large fire events, brigades meet at a designated location for initial briefings and deployments. The Canyonleigh brigade travelled to the following locations for (on average) 12 hour deployments – not including travel to and from Canyonleigh:

Hill Top, Bullio, Oakdale, Balmoral, Exeter, Colong Station, Bundanoon, Wingello, Taralga, Lakesland, Bindook, Colo Vale, Buxton, Balmoral, High Range and Penrose.

For many members, the Green Wattle and Morton Fires were their first exposure to significant bush fire events. Our brigade mix of new and experienced RFS volunteers was recognised by many local brigades, incident controllers and residents of the many areas in which we were active.

30 January 2020 the Green Wattle Creek fire was listed as `Contained’ and at Patrol status.

2 February 2020 the Morton Fire was listed at `Contained’ and at Patrol status.

On Friday 7 February 2020, the Commissioner of RFS revoked the Section 44 at 10.00pm

The following details outlines the days the brigade was active, where they were located and activities undertaken.

Nov 6-10              Glenn Innes                        Brigade Captain flew to northern NSW to join other brigades

Nov 12                  Canyonleigh                       Brigade standup at Fire Shed on Catastrophic Day – no incidents

Nov 24-25            Square Rock                       Captain deployed with Remote Area Team (RAFT)

Nov 26                  Brayton                                Cat 1, Cat 7 and crews attend Wollondilly River fire

Nov 29                  Bucketty                              Captain flew from Bankstown as a part of RAFT crew

Dec 1-4                 Coolong Station                Start of fire to become Green Wattle Creek fire. Brigade                                                                  involvement included fire fighting, hand tool work and                                                   property protection.

Dec 6                     Oakdale                               Property protection, extinguishing spot fires

Dec 9                   Bindook                              Crew flies to location, uses NPWS equipment fire fighting

Dec 10                   Lakesland                            Back burning, extinguishing spot fires, patrol

Dec 14                   Colo Vale                             Blacking out firelines, patrol, dry firefighting activities

Dec 15                   Hill Top                                 Back burning, blacking out, fire line patrol

Dec 17                   Hill Top                                 Back burning, hand toll lines, water transfer

Dec 18                   Hill Top                                 5am start, back burning, patrol

Dec 19                   Buxton/Bullio                    Patrol, property protection, fire fighting

Dec 20                   Balmoral                              Property preparation & protection, active fire fighting

Dec 20                   Canyonleigh                       Prepare and present community event at Fire Shed

Dec 21                   Hill Top                                 Property protection and preparation, extinguish spot fires

Dec 22                   Hill Top                                 Patrol, black out, property preparation

Dec 28                   High Range/Hill Top        Patrol, blacking out, extinguish spot fires

Dec 29                   Hill Top                                 Back burning, property protection, blacking out

Dec 30                   Taralga                                  Back burning, patrol, blacking out

Dec 31                   Taralga                                  Fire fighting, property protection, deployed to Wombeyan

Caves area

Jan 3                      Canyonleigh                       RFS community meeting at Fire Shed

Jan 4                      Canyonleigh                       Cat 1 located at Tugalong Station, fire shed manned all day

Jan 4                      Bundanoon/Wingello     10pm call-out at 10pm Cat 1 and 7, firefighting, property

protection, patrol   

Jan 5                      Canyonleigh                       Property inspections and community contact

Jan 6                      Canyonleigh                       Fire trail inspections, supervise dozer on Tugalong tracks

Jan 7                      Canyonleigh/Penrose    Refilling of water tanks around Canyonleigh, water source

mapping. Called to Penrose for fire and property activities

Jan 8                      Canyonleigh                       Mapping water sources Inverary & Hanging Rock Roads

Jan 9                      Bowral                                  Truck wheel repairs on Cat 1

Jan 10                    Canyonleigh                       Fire trail remediation, Tugalong Station track review

Jan 11                    Exeter/Bundanoon         1am call-out, property preparation and protection

Jan 12                    Canyonleigh                       Supervise 2 blade wide fire line on Tugalong station

Jan 13                    Canyonleigh                       Dozer fire lines around Omni Exec, Little Forest and between

Bangadilly National Park and private property.

Jan 19                    Bullio                                     Canyonleigh Captain joined RAFT Crews from Sthn Hlnds and

NPWS looking for and extinguishing hot spots

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET

The Canyonleigh Brigade wasn’t the only brigade in the RFS to utilise the power of social media and the web, however, the feedback and response from our 2,100 plus followers and the wider social media network was truly astounding. Add to this the significant increase in traffic to our web site, it was clear that the web was the first reference point for millions of people from around the world.

Canyonleigh’s social media campaign commenced following the escalation of the Green Wattle Creek fire in early December. Every day of the campaign we posted updates, information, Fire Danger Ratings if they escalated, brigade activity and general advice to our followers. Even though our target was the approx. 300 people of Canyonleigh, our posts went viral – page views of up to 30,000 was not uncommon. We even received messages from a number of overseas people who had friends in Canyonleigh and the Highlands.

Our web site was an important component of our campaign – every day during the bush fire season the daily Fire Danger Rating was updated, information on Total Fire Bans – even if the FDR was raised during the day, the web site was updated.

The appreciation and recognition from the Canyonleigh and wider community was truly appreciated by the Brigade and its members.

A few Facebook stats:

Average Post Reach Dec/Jan – approx. 3,000

Highest Post Reach – 39,177

Followers – Boosted from 1,300 to 2170 over the Dec/Jan period

Post engagements Jan only: 19,000 plus

Web site hits over Dec/Jan: 16,500

THE COMMUNITY AND OUR BRIGADE

The treat of fires brought the community together three times. The first event was staged on 20 December as a community advice event. Even though the Green Wattle Creek fire to Canyonleigh’s north was yet to become an imminent threat, the Brigade staged a community get together to discuss the potential impact of fire on the area. Brigade Secretary Terry Biscoe welcomed the 160 plus community members that attended and gave them a brief rundown of fires state-wide and details of the Green Wattle Creek fire. Brigade Captain, Brett Bannerman, then painted a picture of bush fire impact and ramifications on the local community should they not be ready or leave early should an incident eventuate. Using a Henry Lawson poem as a pre-curser to his presentation, Brett chose to call upon the real facts should a fire impact Canyonleigh: we do not have enough assets to individually protect the area should we be impacted by a major bush fire.  Brett was then followed by the Brigade’s Community Liaison Officer, Frances Crown, who then took the audience through the ramifications of Fire Danger Ratings and potential fire impact. During France’s presentation and after, attendees were counselled on impacts, the importance of property preparation and, should the Green Wattle Creek fire threaten Canyonleigh, the direction in which it would impact.

The second community meeting was called by the RFS on Friday 3 January in light of probable fire impact on Saturday 4 January. On short notice, over 200 locals attended the Fire Shed to get the latest fire updates and impact potential. Inspector David Stimson’s presentation painted a realistic picture of the fire’s potential impact, behaviour, RFS assets available and the advice to consider departing Canyonleigh either that night or very early the next morning. At the end of the presentation the community was invited to participate in a Q&A session. Inspector Stimson and experienced Brigade members responded to and answered every question asked. The following day, the majority of the Canyonleigh community had relocated until conditions improved.

The third community meeting was held on Friday 7 February – initiated by the Canyonleigh Community Association (CCA). At 6.30 pm, people attended the fire shed for a final de-brief of events of the past two months. The event was a `closer’ for both the brigade and the community that endured one of the most challenging bush fire seasons for some twenty years. After the de-brief, the community and brigade members attended the Canyonleigh Community Hall for `burgers & drinks’ hosted by the CCA.

“The scale of these bushfires is unprecedented and NSW is experiencing the most devastating natural disaster in living memory,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Quotes from Brigade members:

“As we attended the emergency call to this particular street, we drove up directly facing huge intense fiery red flames. The depth of heat down that road looked like the entrance to hell.”

“Whilst it was a terrible event for those who lost their homes, for me it felt good to be part of a grand endeavour and to know I was making a positive contribution to the community.”

“I could not believe how thick the smoke was – my eyes were watering even though I had my mask on.”

“You can never under-estimate the danger – the fire had its own evil personality”

“The bush was blackened, there was no life and the acrid smell of burnt trees and scrub filled the air.”

“The sting of sweat in my eyes blinds me momentarily …. keep wiping …. I have to keep the smoke out.”

“I felt both excited and apprehensive”

“The season was relentless it just didn’t let up. Each night you would go to bed exhausted wake up exhausted yet somehow find the energy to keep going.”

“I didn’t want to let the people around me down. It took 3 weeks after the fire for my energy to return.”

“It’s scary when 3 people you know, 2 of whom are the toughest people you have ever met, end up in Hospital”

“Early in the season one of my friends said to me “you are a long way from home” my reply was “yes; however, I am close to someone’s home” “

“It was good to protect so many homes and sad to see the ones we lost”

A note from a property owner:

Dear Brett, Just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to ALL your crews for protecting our house yesterday. It was a huge relief to see it still standing when we drove in yesterday afternoon. The fire was still trickling up the hillside and we had to chainsaw two fallen trees to clear the driveway, as expected. But the house and sheds are fine.

Please pass on our tremendous thanks. Your teams were so calm and professional. I hope you all get some rest and a break from the firefighting. THANK YOU seems so inadequate to express the overwhelming gratitude our family feels. But THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Acknowledgements

We have so many people to thank for their support and generosity over the 2019-2020 bush fire season, including:

Canyonleigh Community Association

Canyonleigh First Responders

National Parks & Wildlife Service

Brazenor Family

Shane Turner for using his heavy equipment clearing around the fire shed

Bowral Golf Club

Tahmoor Rotary Association

Numerous private supporters

Ophelia Haragli and her community group My Sisters Keeper. Ophelia and her supporters donated a washing machine, upright freezer, camp stretchers and food for the brigade.

RFS Inspector David Stimson

We would like to formally thank the many people that donated to our fundraising campaign in Jan/Feb. We were overwhelmed and truly appreciative. Your generosity has enabled the Brigade to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies enabling ease-of-maintenance and operational activities – both for training and in the field.

Let us all hope that we never experience the an event like the Black Summer Fires again – but, unfortunately, Australia is a land where droughts, flooding rain and bush fires prevail.