Lilydale State Emergency Service

01/11/2026

** Whilst not technically for our forecast distinct - North Central closely boarders the northern parts of the area we cover, and pollen and storms don’t respect lines in maps…….**

Dept of Health has issued a High risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma has been forecast for the Mallee, Wimmera, North Central and North East weather districts for Monday 2 November.

There is also a moderate risk for the South West, Northern Country and East Gippsland regions.

If you develop asthma symptoms, follow your asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.

Go indoors and shut windows and doors and turn off air conditioners that bring outside air in.

Stay up to date at VicEmergency: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

24/10/2026

DH have issues a High Risk of Thunderstorm Asthma for East Gippsland and Moderate for West and South Gippsland and North East Weather regions for Sunday 25th October 2026.

For our local area the risk remains at Low.

If you have Asthma Symptoms, follow your asthma Managment plan.

See the attached from DH for advice on how to manage your risk.

UPDATE: Today’s epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecast for East Gippsland has been downgraded from high to moderate. There is also a moderate risk for North East.

Thunderstorm asthma can still occur. People with asthma or spring hay fever should continue to check local forecasts and warnings, and avoid being outdoors during thunderstorms, especially the wind gusts before a storm.

If you have asthma, always carry your reliever medication and follow your asthma action plan.

Stay up to date at VicEmergency: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

21/10/2026

This week we were excited to hear that our bid for funding under the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) to replace our "Lilydale Support 1" a 10 year old Ford Ranger Utility, with a new Toyota Hilux, to match our Support 2 vehicle (pictured) was successful.

Along with that, we received advice of funding to upgrade the Automated Manual transmission on our 2025 Medium Rescue Truck to a "conventional " automatic transmission. Lilydale Unit was a key driver in getting this significant upgrade endorsed and approved by VicSES, along with members of the Fleet Team who did a power of work to evaluate and test the upgrade. This will significantly upgrade the performance of the vehicle, allowing us to reach jobs in a more timely manner, as well as reducing the ongoing fuel and running costs of the vehicle (which are paid for by the unit)

There is still a level of unit funding to support this grant funding (we must contribute 1/3 of the cost)

And a Note to our local politicians: We are happy to discuss our needs. Proper, long-term, secure funding for VicSES is still not a reality. We are not interested in PhotoOps. We will not be providing campaign endorsements, photo ops, or the like with ANY candidate from Any Party. We have so far declined a number of requests, and will continue to do so. We will not be politicised.

We ask all candidates to support all Emergency Services, Paid or Volunteer, appropriately. We all have differing needs, and various sides of politics have expressed differing ways to address the issue. All we ask is that you speak to us, the front-line responders, for what WE want, and not make blind promises you think will buy you votes.

As always, we thank our community - without whom, we would not have members, and we would not be able to draw much-needed funds to ensure our fleet remains viable, as up-to-date as possible, and ready to respond when you need us most.

28/09/2026

This week’s training update. Our good friends from Wandin Fire Brigade dropped in to give us the low down on their high angle rescue gear.

Whilst we are not Rope Rescue (meaning Steep or High Angle) trained - we still often co-respond with the combined team from Wandin and Monbulk Fire & Rescue (CFA) for High Angle Rescue events in our area.

Thanks to Darryn, Phil, Nathan and Matt for coming down for a few hours to share the information on the skillset and expertise you deliver to our community and how we can continue to play our part when we are working together at these jobs.

23/09/2026

This week: Rescue Skills training practical. After covering the underpinning theory last week, the unit broke up based on skills and experience.

Again into 3 groups to ensure training is targeted for maximum benefit to the learner groups.

*Rescue Skills Fundamentals
* Intermediate skills - efficiently removing B pillars & identifying SRS system components.
*Advanced - B Pillar ‘Rip’ with a car on a significant angle

Following this with a “Third Door” on a Coupe. A solid nights training. And great engagement from our members as they get tangible training to enhances their skillsets when you need us (which we hope you never do)

10/09/2026

Today we pause to remember the events of 11 September, 2001. An act of extremism. An Act of Terror, which occurred in the late evening our time, 25 years ago.

Many who were alive at the time will recall where they were when they heard. What they were doing. People they may have known.

Along with the 2977 civilians who died and over 6000 people who were injured, we pay tribute to the Emergency Service Workers, who, with flagrant disregard for their own safety, headed TOWARDS Danger. They Were Fire Fighters, Paramedics and Police Officers. They were the 412 FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and Paramedics who ran their final shift.

There were thousands who have since died, from Respiratory Illness’ linked to working on the recovery efforts.

25 Years on. We Never Forget.

📸: 9/11 Memorial, WTC Site, Manhattan, New York taken by one of our members in 2018. Shown is 2 images of the Memorial (day and night), the truck from Ladder Company 3, which was crushed by falling debris - 12 members of the Ladder 3 family perished. The memorial around the base of the old towers, features the names of all the people who died in the World Trade Centre towers themselves - all 2977 of them. Image 4 : FDNY’s “Ten House” - quarters for Engine 10 and Ladder 10. Their station was literally in the shadows of the Towers. Six members from the combined Engine and Truck companies died. Their quarters were damaged in the collapse - but served Asa command post for operations throughout the recovery.

08/09/2026

Tuesday got off to a busy start for our volunteers with a 0545 call for a crash in Croydon Hills with possibly trapped occupant. Just as we arrived our FRV and Wonga Park CFA colleagues advised that the driver was out of the car with nothing more than some injured pride.

Around 1000 we got a number of a calls for a tree down on a house - slightly odd with zero wind - which turned out to be a tree on 2 houses, with a suspected Gas leak.

Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade crews managed that element and 7 of our volunteers spent 3.5 hours removing the parts of the tree that damaged the houses and making temporary repairs….. but…..

Before they were finished - another crash with possible entrapment in Lilydale. In total 9 of our volunteers responded - again - thankfully only minor injuries, alongside Lilydale CFA Fire Brigade and Chirnside Park Fire Brigade - CFA - before heading back to finish off the Tree on Houses ….

04/09/2026

**Traffic Alert - Now Resolved **

Maroondah Hwy, Lilydale side of Victoria Rd intersection, is currently closed with diversions in place

Please avoid the area if possible

25/08/2026

The Training Team have been hard at work with last week’s Rescue Theory training put into practice this week.

Three ‘staged’ levels of complexity to ensure our members get the most from their training

Group 1 - Non Rescue Accredited - did rescue Tool familiarisation
Group 2 - Less experienced Rescue Accredited members - went through common terminology and rapid access techniques
Group 3 - Advanced Rescue Operators - reviewed complex passenger vehicle extrication by reviewing multiple techniques for extricating patients from less common situations such as back seats of Coupes and third row seats in SUVs

Building capability through constantly enhancing our members skills.

It made for a busy night in the training yard. That’s how we make sure if you need us - we’re ready.

23/08/2026

A friendly reminder that when you see Red and Blue (or Magenta or Amber lights on a Towing or Roadside assist vehicle - yep- we know that sometimes you don’t know if it’s one of those specific types on vehicle and not some random truck that left their amber lights on……) that you must endeavour to slow to 40 kph.

That DOESN’T mean slamming the anchors on. It means making a reasonable effort to slow down in a safe manner.

We only use our Red and Blue lights to respond to emergencies or if we are parked at a less urgent job if we absolutely need to to maintain both our safety and yours

So please, Slow Down for Red and Blues