Fire and Rescue NSW Station 208 Aberdeen

From all of us at 208, we would like to wish everyone a happy and safe new year. 🎉

We found Santa and we’re bringing him to see you! Listen out for our siren and Santa’s bell! Please stand back from the road and stay safe.

Alright kids Santa is on his way around town with lots of lollies. Keep an ear out for the siren 🚒🎅

ATTENTION parents and kids, I know you've all been waiting to hear when Santa is coming around on the fire truck to deliver lollies to you all. The good news is, Santa will be coming around twice to try cater for anyone we may miss.
Saturday 13th December- 4:30 to 6:30pm
Saturday 20th December- 4:30 to 6:30pm
Whilst Santa loves seeing you all, we kindly ask parents to keep all children back away from the street and on the footpath or your front lawn for safety reasons. In case of an emergency and we have to leave, we will sound the siren continuously and be back as soon as possible. We can't wait to see you all this weekend 🚒🎅🏻

🔥 Lithium Battery Safety – A Message from Fire & Rescue NSW 🔋

Lithium-ion batteries (like those in e-bikes, e-scooters, phones & power tools) are one of the fastest-growing fire risks in NSW.
Keep yourself and your family safe:
✅ Buy safe – Use batteries & chargers from reputable brands.
⚡ Charge safe – Never charge while you’re asleep or away. Keep batteries on a hard surface, away from beds, couches & exits.
🚫 Don’t ignore damage – If a battery is swollen, hot, leaking or smells strange, stop using it immediately.
♻️ Dispose safe – Never throw batteries in household bins. Recycle them at approved drop-off points.
🚨 If it smokes or catches fire: Get out, close doors, and call 000.

Learn more at 👉 fire.nsw.gov.au/batteries

🔥 Every second counts in a fire! 🔥

Having a home escape plan and working smoke alarms can make all the difference. Don’t wait — if there’s a fire, GET OUT, STAY OUT, and call Triple Zero (000). Never go back inside a burning building.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tips for your family:
✅ Draw your escape plan and discuss it together — download your grid here 👉🏼 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=883
✅ Know two safe ways out of every room. Make sure windows and doors can be opened quickly.
✅ Practise your escape plan regularly with everyone (including pets!). Your letterbox is a great meeting point.
✅ Close internal doors behind you as you leave to slow the fire’s spread.
✅ Remember to consider children, the elderly, or anyone with special needs when planning.

Be prepared. Be safe. Every second counts. ❤️🚒

Do you know someone living with hoarding? We can assist in a few different ways. Please use the links in our Commissioners post.

HOUSE FIRE: PERSONS REPORTED

I still remember the first time I read those words on the printout. We’d been to plenty of “HOUSE FIRES,” but “PERSONS REPORTED” changed everything. It meant someone was likely trapped inside, and that changes the urgency, the risks, and the choices that follow.

The truth is, we rarely know what we’re actually walking into. A “rubbish fire” might turn out to be a car well alight. The third automatic fire alarm of the day at a hospital could be a ward actually burning.

Every front door hides a different story because we don’t know how people live, and while it’s not our place to judge, it is our job to make things safer.

This year in NSW, 29 people have lost their lives in house fires. Tragically, 10 of them were described as living with hoarding.

When the Community labels someone, we stop seeing them and collectively feel less responsible for any outcome. That’s when risk gets missed, which is sadly why hoarding and squalor contribute to around 12% of fire fatalities, usually with people over the age of 50.

Why this matters: cords and power boards snaking through rooms, heaters too close to clutter, exits blocked or hard to reach. Then, if a fire starts, rescues are slower, escapes are harder, and there’s more fuel to burn.

Due to the complexities with hoarding, the solution isn’t a skip bin and a lecture; it’s respect, patience, and small, practical steps that last.

Communities keep people safe when we choose curiosity and empathy over judgment, so what I’m asking our community today:

Empathise with those around you. Use person-first language, say “a person living with hoarding” instead of “they’re a hoarder.”

If you know someone who might need help, you can recommend our services. If you don’t know them personally, you can still start the process by submitting a form: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=913

For people living with hoarding:

Win one small safety victory: clear a path to the front door, keep heaters and cooktops clear, and test smoke alarms, especially near bedrooms.

Need help? Our crews can visit for free to quietly check alarms and check exits without judgment. Follow this link: www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits

If it’s a fire risk but not an emergency, let us know so support can begin. https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=913

As a fire service, we’re accountable not only for how we respond to emergencies, but also for what we do to prevent them. If we work together, people living with hoarding will be safer today and supported to find a path out of unlivable conditions tomorrow.

📷: A resident of Avalon was living with hoarding when she lost her life in a house fire earlier this year. Northern Beaches Advocate

🚫🔥 TOTAL FIRE BAN – WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 🔥🚫
It has been declared that a Total Fire Ban for the Greater Hunter region this Wednesday, 22 October due to Extreme fire danger.

What this means:
🛑NO open flames (campfires, fire pits, etc.)
🛑NO solid fuel BBQs
🛑NO welding, grinding, or machinery that could spark

Penalties apply for non-compliance

With high temps and windy conditions forecast, please stay alert and prepared 🥵🔥

🔋 Thinking of fixing or modifying a battery yourself? Think again.

Battery repairs, servicing, and installation should always be handled by certified professionals. ⚠️

Too many accidents happen when batteries are tampered with or used in DIY projects. Fires, toxic leaks, even explosions. It’s just not worth the risk.
✅ Stay safe.
✅ Protect your property.
✅ Leave it to the experts.

For more safety advice please visit 👉🏼https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9478

Applications for IFARES close soon, at 11:55pm on Thursday 16 October 2025. Don’t miss your opportunity to take the first step towards a firefighting career. Apply at careers.fire.nsw.gov.au/ifares