Robertson Rural Fire Brigade

03/10/2026

TODAY! Sunday, come on down behind the Pig Potato, next to the Primary School's BBQ where you will find us ready with some freebies and plenty of advice on planning and preparing for bad days.

There's a hot summer on the way, and probably a few doozies of storms as well (*), so now is the time to sort out what you can do to be ready.

Hope to see you down here!

(*our weather forecasts do not constitute financial or other advice and are not to be relied upon as the basis for any investment or other decision, read the PDS or at least confirm with the BOM and double confirm out the window - www.bom.gov.au. Prepare, Act, Survive. 😉 🚒 😀)

03/10/2026

Big day in Robertson tomorrow with multiple events happening all over the village.

We will be set up behind the Pig Potato ready to answer all of your questions about fire and storm preparation. We'd love to see lots of locals swing by to say hello, grab a few resources to help you get ready for the summer and if you have small kids we have a few things to keep them busy while you watch the Grand Final later on!

We'll also be helping out with some off street parking in the back field behind the school, so if you can'd find a spot on the main street pull in and be close to the Rainforest Festival, Waratah Festival and bus stops to get you up to the markets.

See you then!

13/09/2026

Permits required from midnight tonight!

Thanks to all our residents who have been trying to minimise the fire risks on their properties. If you haven't quite finished yet, it's not too late for doing some pile burns - just in addition to submmitting an official notification and letting your neighbours know more than 24hours in advance, you first need to apply for a permit. This can take a week to process so please try and plan ahead. Both forms are available at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify

Reach out to us if you need more information, and we'll be at the Spring Into Robertson markets behind the Pig Potato on the 4th October. Drop by then and grab some resources and hot tips on preparing for the summer heat and storms.

The Bush Fire Danger Period commences next week for the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas. From Monday 14 September, Fire Permits are required to light or maintain fire in the open.

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.

Now is the time to review your Bush Fire Survival Plan and know what you will do if a fire threatens.

More information is available on the RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/BFDP

10/09/2026

Evening Robbo, just advising that there is currently a pile burn being done at the western end of May Street. You might notice it if you come along the highway into town. It’s well under control and we are on scene with the landholders for the first part of the burn.

04/09/2026

The winds are predicted to increase throughout this morning. If you have had a pile burn this week please check it this morning and again later in the day to ensure it hasn't reignited. Heat can remain deep in a pile for many days after you think it has been extinguished, and be brought back to life with a strong wind, throwing embers into unburnt areas.
A reminder also that no pile burns are permitted without notifications to your neighbours and the RFS (www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify) at least 24hours beforehand, and from the 14th September this year permits will also be required through until the end of March.

🟡Elevated Fire Danger - Saturday 5 September🟡

Due to unseasonably warm and windy conditions tomorrow, the Fire Danger Rating will be raised to High for the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas.

🔥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 or escaped fire, call 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

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

24/08/2026

This is a little belated, but we wanted to introduce you to Felix and Scott. They recently completed their basic firefighter training and are now qualified to be able to attend incidents. We are really excited to have both Scott and Felix (who has been training with us as a Junior Member after being part of a school Cadets program) as part of the team.

Working on this training is just one of the many things that we get up to through the colder months. To give you an idea of what goes on in the life of your community volunteers, over just the last few weeks we've had members involved in:

*Firefighter Level 1 (Basics)
*Advanced Firefighter - Hydraulics training
*Assisting with the delivery of Advanced Firefigher - Crew Safety and Awareness
*Protect and Preserve Incident Scene training
*The "Trim Felled Trees" Chainsaw training
*An Aviation Support familiarisation workshop at Mittagong Airfield
*Another member became "Structural Firefighter" qualified
*Two of our Crew Leaders attended an officers upskilling workshop about dealing with careless fires.
*Two members provided some assistance to the search and rescue efforts in the Nattai.
*Two of our members who are also RFS Chaplains attended a conference about their role including further valuable training in assisting people in crisis.
*Our brigade attended a presentation from a local sporting legend talking about high performance under pressure organised by our friends over at Avoca Brigade.
*Three members have been involved in a two-day District Incident Management Excercise to help prepare for the coming fire season
*and we installed a new hose drying rack!

Joining the RFS definitely provides plenty of opportunities to try something new and expand your horizons as you look out for your local area.

Over the coming month we will be transitioning into more of a focus on preparation for the fast approaching summer. If you see us around come say hi and ask any questions you may have.

15/08/2026

Car accident on Illawarra Highway west of McGraths Road. Emergency responders on scene. Please avoid the area if possible

20/07/2026

World cup over, back to the endless scrolling in bed?

Phones, laptops, e-bike batteries. They all generate heat while
charging.
Charging on a bed, doona or pillow traps that heat against
fabric. Lithium-ion fires can start fast.
Charge on a hard, flat surface. Keep batteries off bedding.
Be fire safe this winter. fire.nsw.gov.au/befiresafe

30/05/2026

Great outcome for a missing person in the Royal National Park.

Robertson had two crew members assisting with the search today. While our brigades exist primarily here for our local communities it’s always comforting to see volunteers from all over put their hand up to go near or far when people are in need.