NSW RFS - Alpine/Aylmerton Brigade

11/10/2026

High Fire Danger Rating | Fire Permits Suspended - Monday, 12 October 2026

With forecast dry and windy conditions tomorrow, all fire permits will be suspended for a 24 hour period from midnight tonight across the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas.

If you see a fire without a fire truck in attendance, report it to Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Don't be the fire risk to your community.

More info: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

17/09/2026

🔥 WHY EVERYONE LIVING IN A BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREA NEEDS A BUSH FIRE SURVIVAL PLAN 🔥

This video is about the 2025 Koolewong fire on the NSW Central Coast, and it really highlights why having a Bush Fire Survival Plan is so important.
The fire was reported at around 12:40 pm. It was a day of Extreme Fire Danger, with hot, dry and windy conditions.
Within just 20 minutes, 12 homes had been destroyed.
That is an incredibly short amount of time.
It is a reminder that when a bushfire starts, you may not have hours to decide what you're going to do. Conditions can change rapidly, roads can become dangerous, smoke can reduce visibility, power and communications can be affected, and emergency services may be dealing with multiple threats at the same time.
Don't wait until you can see the fire to make your plan.
A Bush Fire Survival Plan means thinking about these things before the fire starts:
🏠 Will we leave early or stay and defend?
🚗 Where will we go if we need to leave?
🛣️ Which roads can we use and what is our backup route?
🐶 What will we do with our pets?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where will everyone in the household be?
📱 How will we receive emergency warnings?
💧 What preparations can we make around our property?
🔥 What will we do if conditions suddenly deteriorate?
And importantly, don't assume that someone else will make the decision for you.
If you live in a bushfire-prone area, take some time now to sit down with your family and make a plan.
Because when a fire is at your doorstep, it's too late to start deciding what you're going to do.
🔥 Prepare. Plan. Know your triggers. Act early.

17/09/2026

04/09/2026

⚠️ Increased Wind Forecast ⚠️

Winds are forecast to increase across the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas today and into tomorrow, with peak gusts expected to exceed 50km/hr tomorrow, combined with warmer temperatures.

These conditions increase the risk of recent pile burns reigniting and escaping, particularly burns conducted over the past few weeks.

🔥 Landholders are urged to:
• Postpone all planned pile burning until conditions ease.
• Regularly check any pile burns conducted in recent weeks.
• Ensure burnt piles are completely extinguished, including checking for heat or smouldering material beneath the surface.
• Continue monitoring old burn sites while strong winds persist.

Remember, fines can apply if you fail to notify the RFS before lighting a fire or if your fire escapes your property.

If you see an unattended fire, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

🚫 Don’t be the fire risk to your community.

More info: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/farm-fire-safety/safeburning

01/09/2026

Bush Fire Danger Period to start on 14 September 2026

The Bush Fire Danger Period of the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas has been brought forward to 14 September due to prevailing dry conditions. This means that a Fire Permit will be required from 14 September to light or maintain fire in the open.

Residents and land holders should also ensure they understand the rules around the use of fire. Along with required fire permits, you must also notify your local fire authority and neighbours of your intent to burn 24 hours in advance.

To apply for a Fire Permit visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify and be sure to give us as much notice as possible as a Fire Permit Officer will need to visit your property prior to issuing a permit.

Know the risks for your area, have a bush fire survival plan and discuss what you and your family will do if threatened by fire.

For more information, visit the RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/BFDP

fans

30/08/2026

Over the last two days members from over the southern highlands team have completed the Structural firefighting course at the Kerslake training facility.
This course is designed to provide the skills and knowledge to safely and effectively undertake internal Structural firefighting.
Wearing Breathing Apparatus.
It's fantastic seeing volunteers giving up their time to gain valuable skills to help protect our communities.
Well done to everyone involved!
Wilton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade Tahmoor Rural Fire Brigade
NSW RFS - Wingello Brigade
NSW RFS - Colo Vale Brigade
Appin Rural Fire Brigade
NSW RFS Southern Highlands
Judy Hannan MP - Member for Wollondilly
Sara Moylan. Councillor at Wingecarribee Shire Council
The Southern Wire

09/08/2026

Over the weekend 8 members from across the southern highlands team have completed the Structural firefighting course at the Kerslake training facility (Alpine station)
This course is run over 3 days and gives students the skills and knowledge to safely and effectively undertake internal Structural firefighting.
It's fantastic seeing volunteers giving up their time to gain valuable skills to help protect our communities.
Well done to everyone involved!
Appin Rural Fire Brigade Mittagong Rural Fire Brigade Robertson Rural Fire Brigade Wilton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade Menangle Rural Fire Brigade Alpine/Aylmerton Rural Fire Brigade
NSW RFS Southern Highlands Judy Hannan MP - Member for Wollondilly The Southern Wire

28/07/2026

Just an update on James.
He has arrived at the Coyote Fire in Oregon.
It's fantastic seeing our members assisting our international friends in their time of need.
Stay safe everyone!
NSW RFS Southern Highlands
Judy Hannan MP - Member for Wollondilly
Sara Moylan. Councillor at Wingecarribee Shire Council

24/07/2026

Our Deputy Captain James is headed to the USA to assist with the current bushfires.
Stay safe Jimmy your doing us all proud.

This morning, a contingent of 26 NSW firefighting personnel, including our own Deputy Group Captain James Koens from the NSW RFS - Alpine/Aylmerton Brigade, will deploy to the United States to support ongoing wildfire operations. The NSW firefighters are part of a larger contingent of 74 personnel from across Australia and New Zealand and are expected to be assigned to fires in the north-west region of the US.

The deployment includes incident management specialists, field supervisors, heavy plant and aviation specialists. They will be deployed for five weeks and will play a vital role in supporting firefighting operations, drawing on their specialised skills and experience managing large bush fires in Australia.

We wish all personnel deploying a safe journey and thank them for dedicating their time and expertise. We look forward to their safe return in September.

14/06/2026

Over the weekend at the Kerslake training facility at the Alpine station, 11 members from across the Southern Highlands team have completed their Breathing Apparatus wearers course.
This course gives them the necessary knowledge and skills to wear BA when attending car fires, truck fires, external firefighting at structural fires and other fire related incidents.
It is great to see our volunteers giving up their time to gain valuable skills to help protect our communities.
Well done to everyone on your great teamwork 👏.
NSW RFS - Alpine/Aylmerton Brigade Wilton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade NSW RFS - Wingello Brigade Bargo Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade Menangle Rural Fire Brigade Buxton Rural Fire Brigade
NSW RFS Southern Highlands
Sara Moylan. Councillor at Wingecarribee Shire Council Judy Hannan MP - Member for Wollondilly Rachel Russell - Wingecarribee