Firefighter engagement protects Indigenous communities - Walgett
Published: 21 Dec 2023 09:37am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have teamed up with community elders for a successful series of home fire safety visits in the township of Walgett in the state’s north-west.
Building on engagement experiences, gleaned from deployments to isolated areas hit by natural disasters, the firefighters linked up with the elders and went door to door last week, providing home fire safety advice, testing smoke alarms and checking access to fire hydrants.
Among the first responders were highly-respected Indigenous firefighters from Brewarrina Fire Station who helped to connect with some of the Walgett residents.
As a result, the crews were able to build relationships and reduce the risk of fires within the township and nearby missions.
They also held a community event to meet residents and provide fire safety advice, offering locals with peace of mind in relation to fire dangers within their homes.
The event was also used to recruit on-call firefighters, with one person applying on the spot.
FRNSW Area Commander, Garry Barber, said the unique approach will prove very helpful towards approaching other Indigenous communities with safety advice.
“Walgett is an area where it’s proved a challenge for FRNSW to develop relationships with the local community in the past,” Chief Superintendent Barber said.
“But by using Indigenous firefighters with whom residents are related or already know, combined with the help from the elders, we have been able to build trust with the community and assist it to reduce the risk of fire.
“We are now hoping to apply this template in other remote communities like Lake Cargelligo, in the state’s central west, to foster new relationships and pass on our advice.”
Updated: 21 Dec 2023 09:42am
Related safety topics
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
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Stations nearby
38 Pitt Street, Walgett NSW 2832
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