NSW RFS - Smiths Road Brigade

11/10/2026

Tomorrow’s Fire Danger Rating has been set to High.

01/10/2026

Just to let everyone know that the brigade will be assisting a landowner on Hugs Lane, with a planned burn this afternoon. There will be smoke in the area. Only call 000 if you see unattended flames!

20/09/2026

Our new District Officer, Lachlan Gilchrist’s speech at the handover of our brand new Cat 7!

20/09/2026

Our captain, Tim Hunter’s speech today, Sunday 20th September.

20/09/2026

Today wasn’t just about Get Ready but it was also the offical handover of our very first brand new fire appliance! Welcome to the road Smiths Road 7 Bravo. Thank you to our new District Officer Lachlan Gilchrist for coming out and handing over the keys!

20/09/2026

Thank you to everyone that came and saw us today at our Get Ready Day. It was great to see you all! A massive thank you to all of the members of the brigade who helped yesterday and today! It was really appreciated!

19/09/2026

🚒 Could a fire truck access your home in an emergency?

When a bush fire threatens, every second counts. Firefighters need safe and reliable access to your property to protect your home, your family and your community.

Fire appliances come in different sizes, but a Cat 1 tanker can be up to 7.8 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and require a turning circle of approximately 22 metres.

🌿 Overgrown vegetation
🌳 Low branches
🛣️ Narrow access tracks
🌧️ Soft or unstable ground
🔒 Locked or difficult-to-access gates

These can delay emergency response and place firefighters at risk.

Before fire season, check your property access and make sure emergency vehicles can safely enter and exit.

The NSW Rural Fire Service recommends property access tracks and driveways have:
✅ Minimum width of 3.5 metres
✅ Minimum vertical clearance of 4 metres from overhanging branches or structures
✅ Adequate turning space for large fire appliances
✅ All-weather surfaces capable of supporting heavy vehicles
✅ Clearly accessible gates and entrances

🚒 Clear access can make a difference when it matters most.

Take a few minutes to check your driveway and access tracks now — it could help firefighters reach you when you need them most.

Come down to the fire shed from 10am tomorrow, Sunday, and have a chat to the members. Free BBQ, New Fire Truck handover, pump maintenance demos and a talk about the risk of fire in our area for the upcoming season

Learn more: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/prepare

Even if your plan is to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bush fire or ember attack. A well prepared home can also be easier for you or firefighters to defend, and is less likely to put your neighbours' homes at risk. A well prepared home will also give y...

18/09/2026

Thank you to Nerriga Rural Fire Brigade for this!

🔥 13 DAYS TO GO IS YOUR EMERGENCY EVACUATION PACK READY? 🔥

When a bush fire threatens, you may not have much time to gather what you need.

Now is the perfect time to put together an Emergency Evacuation Pack and keep it somewhere easy to grab.

🎒 Some of the essentials include:

💧 Water and non-perishable food
🔦 Torch and spare batteries
📻 Battery-powered radio
📱 Phone charger/power bank
🩹 First aid kit
💊 Essential medications
👕 Change of clothes
🥾 Sturdy enclosed footwear
🧴 Toiletries and personal items
📄 Important documents and insurance details
💰 Cash and bank cards
🔑 Spare keys
😷 P2/N95 masks
🧤 Protective clothing
📸 Important or irreplaceable photos
👨‍👩‍👧 Items needed for children or anyone with additional needs

📦 Keep everything together in a waterproof container or bag and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.

Don’t forget to check your pack regularly — replace expired medications, batteries and food, and make sure everything you may need is still there.

🔥 And remember: your evacuation pack is only one part of your bush fire plan. Know when you will leave, where you will go and how you will get there.

Prepare now. Don’t wait until a fire is approaching.

🚒 Nerriga Rural Fire Brigade

17/09/2026

During a bush fire, power outages and communications
disruptions can affect how you receive emergency
information. Don’t rely on just one source.
Stay informed by:
• Downloading the Hazards Near Me app.
• Listening to local radio, including ABC Radio.
• Checking the NSW RFS website.
• Calling the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 NSW RFS
(1800 679 737).
Having more than one way to receive updates can help
you stay safe when conditions change.
Learn more at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/prepare

07/06/2026

Just a reminder to all residents and owners of property on Smiths Road

There is no longer a requirement for Fire Permits BUT there is still a requirement for Burn Notifications before you burn on your property.
Once we are out of the Bush Fire Danger Period, planned burns need to be notified to your neighbours and the NSW RFS, at least 24 hours (business hours) ahead of the planned burn.

Neighbour notifications must be done via a direct means, such as a face-to-face verbal, phone call, SMS, letter, etc. We do ask that a letter in the mail box should come with a reasonable time-frame.

Posting on Social Media is NOT sufficient for a neighbour notification of a planned burn.

RFS notifications can be done by going to https://nswrfsprod.service-now.com/guardian_csp?id=guardian_cat_item&sys_id=9e19819bc361f1d04a9cdc31150131ad during the working week or by ringing the Cooma Control Centre on 02 6455 0455, though using the web link is far more preferable.

The RFS notification process will result in a Burn Number being allocated to your planned burn, which can be referenced if an emergency call does end up being made.

You can also let the Brigade know about your planned burn by sending a message with the burn notification number to either our Captain Tim Hunter on 0418420500 or our Senior Deputy Stu Morrison on 0416521041 - just messaging these numbers without the notification number does not constitute notifying the RFS!

Along with having the notifications in place, please also make sure you are prepared for your burn. This means making sure your burns are not larger than you can handle, and that you have adequate fire fighting equipment and resources on-hand to suit the size of your fire.

If you're unsure or need a hand, please get in contact with the Smiths Road Brigade - WELL BEFORE YOUR BURN - by contacting either of the mentioned numbers above.