Malcolm Arthur and Michael Robson, volunteer Community Fire Unit members. (Julie Nance)
Story by Julie Nance
The preparation and resilience shown by the Blue Mountains community in the 1994 bushfires helped create Fire and Rescue NSW’s Community Fire Unit (CFU) program. There are now 5,000 CFUs spread throughout NSW – teams of residents preparing and protecting properties in their street. Their support enables emergency services to focus their efforts on the fire front and saving lives. Writer Julie Nance spoke to the head of the Statewide program who grew up in Blaxland, and a dedicated CFU member of 20 years in Winmalee.
Key Points:
Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell says: “With the changing climate resulting in longer and more dangerous bushfire seasons, the CFU program is more important than ever to help support Fire and Rescue NSW’s bushfire strategy.” (Source: Introduction to the Community Fire Unit Program eLearning video)
From the Nepean River to Mount Victoria there are 94 CFUs, boasting 867 volunteer members.
The roar of the fire and the loud explosions are what Michael Robson remembers most clearly about that unforgettable day: 17 October 2013.
The father of four was sheltering inside his home in Semana Place, Winmalee, unaware three houses at the top end of his street were on fire.
This wasn’t Michael’s first experience of a bushfire emergency threatening his property. He’d been here before in 1994 and 2000.
But this time was different. The fear was greater but there was a stronger sense of “I know what to do”. Michael had 10 years of preparation and practice behind him as a coordinator of a Community Fire Unit.
“My wife was a teacher and she was helping walk students from St Thomas Aquinas to safety at the shopping centre,” Michael recalls.
“My daughter was at St Columba’s in lockdown. There’s a lot of emotion that happens and the fact that I had things to do – to prepare and get things ready – probably helped calm me a little bit.”
When it was safe to emerge from his home, Michael and his neighbours – fellow CFU members – got to work, putting out embers.
“There were three homes lost at the top end of the street and they didn’t have a CFU,” Michael says.
“Down here I believe we would have lost more homes if we hadn’t had the CFU. Certainly, the ember attack, we did a fair bit of work.”
View a 60-second video – Community Fire Unit members shows off their equipment (Julie Nance)
A total of 185 homes were lost in Springwood, Winmalee and Yellow Rock in what became known as the ‘Linksview Road fire’.
Superintendent Brendan Hurley is Manager of the CFU program for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW). He echoes what governments are increasingly saying: “We cannot have a fire truck in every street, protecting every house, when we have a major bushfire event.
“Sometimes we struggle to keep up if we have a large breakout day where a number of bushfires start. When resources become stretched, we are very much relying on the local communities and the volunteers.”
Superintendent Brendan Hurley, Manager of Fire and Rescue NSW’s CFU program. (Photo supplied)
The deployment of the CFUs in 2013 meant firefighting crews could keep moving with the fire front and direct resources to areas that needed protection such as Winmalee High School, where hundreds of students and staff were in lockdown.
FRNSW’s CFU webpage provides a snapshot of the program: “A Community Fire Unit is a team of local residents living in urban areas close to bushland who are supported by Fire and Rescue NSW to enhance their safety and resilience to bushfires. As a volunteer CFU member you will learn how to prepare yourself, your family and your home ahead of the bushfire season. You will learn how to make informed decisions about whether to leave early or stay and defend your property when bushfires threaten.”
The difference between Fire & Rescue NSW CFU volunteers and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, is that the RFS volunteer firefighters respond (in fire trucks) to anywhere in the state to undertake bushfire firefighting operations, whereas FRNSW CFU volunteers stay and defend their own properties and communities within a defined area of operations (FRNSW fire district) using assigned resources and equipment contained in trailers or cabinets.
Having grown up in Blaxland, Superintendent Hurley has a strong interest in, and knowledge of the lower Blue Mountains. He began his journey in emergency services as a Rural Fire Service volunteer and enjoyed the camaraderie within the local community.
Superintendent Hurley says although the Blue Mountains community and emergency services were overwhelmed during the 1994 bushfires, it became clear afterwards that a lot of people were well prepared.
He explains: “A number of local residents said ‘we can actually help out a lot more. Once the fire front goes through, we can stay around to help clean up, mop up and put embers out. We can make sure houses are safe once the main fire front goes through and the initial danger is gone’.”
This valuable feedback contributed to the development of the CFU program.
While CFU members have an active part to play in preparing and protecting their neighbourhoods, they are not classed as firefighters.
“Their job is preparing for bushfires and taking a bit of pressure off emergency services,” Superintendent Hurley says. “CFUs free emergency services up to move where the dangers are: life saving or life-threatening situations.”
I’ve often wondered what’s inside the little red CFU trailers dotted around the streets in my lower Mountains neighbourhood.
When Michael lifted the doors of his trailer, parked on a neighbour’s lawn, my first impression was “wow, this little trailer certainly packs a punch with equipment”.
Michael says: “It’s quite amazing the amount of equipment we have, and that provides a level of comfort.” (Julie Nance)
The trailer includes 10 hoses, nozzles, two standpipes and pumps that are checked regularly and can access water from pools in the street. There’s also a small water dam that can be quickly constructed, rakes, walkie talkies and the list goes on!
“The trailer is fantastic,” Michael says. “We’re all trained on the equipment and know what to do and our role. And it’s not to fight fires. It’s just to prepare for fires and mop up afterwards.”
Michael secures a hoseline after fitting the standpipe. (Julie Nance)
Michael and Malcolm fill the water dam, another water source in addition to 3 pools in neighbouring properties. Malcolm says: “It’s a good feeling knowing we can get things prepared for the firies and help protect our street.”(Julie Nance)
Applications received by FRNSW for the CFU Program are assessed based on a number of factors including distance from bushland and classified level of bushfire risk.
You need a minimum of four members to have a Unit but the preferable number is 10. FRNSW provides the trailer as well as online and practical training and full uniforms.
Michael says his Unit, currently comprising seven members, meets from August to March or April, depending on the fire season. The commitment is one, to one and a half hours, on the first Sunday of the month.
“Working on the backburn trails is the most important element and then checking all the equipment to make sure it’s ready,” he says.
“We have very good guidance and education from Fire and Rescue NSW. If the conditions are rated as catastrophic, we’ve got no choice. We can’t even activate. We have to go.”
CFU members cutting a backburn trail in case it’s needed by fire services during a wildfire. (Photo supplied)
Superintendent Hurley says there’s a strong element of sharing by CFU members: resilience, information, and preparedness and prevention activities to enable communities to be better prepared for the upcoming bushfire season.
Michael says an unexpected bonus from being involved has been the strengthening of community ties.
“The CFU has been very bonding for our street. We know each other a lot better now,” he says. “You know when people are sick and you can support each other.
“We’re fully prepared for this season and we’ve got our neighbours prepared, even the ones who aren’t in the CFU. They know we’re here and I think it helps just create that community aspect. It has been tremendous.”
Take Action:
If you are interested in joining a Fire and Rescue NSW CFU, or starting your own Unit, visit the FRNSW website; phone: 1300 238 238, Email: cfu@fire.nsw.gov.au or visit Facebook.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
If you’re interested in learning how to propagate native plants and are keen to help our bush regenerate, the Bushcare Seed Collectors meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Check out how they cook Banksias to release their seed and learn more about the group, and native seed collecting, in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/
If you’d like to join the group, contact the Bushcare officer Tracy Abbas on 4780 5623 or email tabbas@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
Littlejohni, the Rare and Endangered Northern Heath Frog, photographed in Woodford!
When the Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition opened at the Planetary Health Centre in March it featured photos of 20 different local frogs. We were thrilled, however, when Andy Klotz and other members of the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society recently managed to photograph another frog in Woodford: the rarely seen and endangered Litoria littlejohni, also known as the Northern Heath Frog or Orange-bellied Tree Frog. We’ve added a photo of that frog to the exhibition and created a new Frogs of the Blue Mountains video in which you can listen to its call on our YouTube channel. We interviewed Andy to learn more about the Littlejohni and how they managed to find its small local population. You can read this story in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile). #biodiversity #bluemountainsfrogs #northernheathfrog #litorialittlejohni #bluemountains #woodford #planetaryhealth #hawkesburyherpetologicalsociety...
Our newsletter is now out! Read about how you can contribute to @bluemountainscitycouncil`s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy; watch our video on Falling in Love with Glossy Black Cockatoos; see the new photos of the rare Northern Heath Frog; watch how the Bushcare Seed Collectors cook banksias to release their seeds; learn more about Tai Chi and Qigong, the Chinese medicine movement practices; and take part in our next workshop on Designing Your Future Home with Passive House Designer Karina Rafailov from @earthy_haus
Read it here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/40e4GHr
Our video on Falling In Love With Glossy Black Cockatoos is now up on our Planetary Health YouTube channel (sorry, it`s too big to share here but there`s a link in our profile).
Jayden Gunn finishes his presentation by saying:
"Care is like a snowball. The more people you tell the bigger the snowball gets, and the further it goes. And the more we know, the more we care. And the more we know, the more we`re able to help."
The video is of our fabulous Forum on Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo, and includes presentations by Jayden Gunn, BirdLife Australia, Amanda Foxon-Hill from Mid Lachlan Landcare, and STEM teacher Samantha Bowden from Glenbrook Public School. There`s a link with the video on how to register for the Community Tree Planting Day in Goologong on 5 July (and it`s also in our profile). Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCERdF21Ud0&t=13s
Today we`re enjoying eating ripe medlars! Medlars are attractive cold climate fruit trees that were popular in Medieval gardens. They`re one of the few fruits that can be harvested in late Autumn and eaten in early Winter when they`re fully ripe. This is a great time of year to plant them for a future harvest. Check out our short video on how to eat them! #coldclimategardens #ediblegardens #medlars #growyourown #planetaryhealth #bluemountains...
We`re thrilled to share that last night @BlueMountainsCityCouncil`s Planetary Health Centre won the Innovative Leadership Award (Population Under 150K) in the 2025 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards. What a great end to World Environment Day! 🌏 This award celebrates how local government can lead transformative change for a more sustainable future. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard with us to make our vision a reality. You can read more about what we`re doing at our website (link in profile): http://www.bluemountainsplanetaryhealth.com.au/ @ph_alliance #planetaryhealth #worldenvironmentday #localgovernmentleadership #nswlocalgovernmentexcellenceawards...
Blocking out a couple of hours a week to step off the treadmill and give ourselves time to nurture our relationship with the earth and ourselves, is one way to keep our creative spirit and ‘lust for life’ alive. If you haven’t done so yet, one opportunity over the next week is to spend some ‘slow’ time in the 2024 Wynne Prize exhibition at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre before it closes on 15 June. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/the-2024-wynne-prize/ @bluemountainsculturalcentre @artgalleryofnsw #wynneprize #landscapes #bluemountains #katoomba #artexhibition #planetaryhealth...
Recognising how violence and war impact the health of the planet, the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative has become a member of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective. On Sunday 25th May, we attended a presentation by Dr Keith Suter on Making Peace in the World Today at the Leura Uniting Church. In this powerful presentation Dr Suter questions why we learn about war rather than successful peace negotiations! View the video of his presentation below and read our full story in Katoomba Area Local News here: https://bit.ly/3Fl4WgQ (link in profile)
With an extra day up your sleeve this long weekend, it`s a great opportunity to give nature a hand to regenerate and provide more habitat for our fellow species! Join our fabulous all ages Planetary Health Bushcare Group from 1.30pm and then participate in the Forum on Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo at 4pm, followed by drinks and nibblies! You can also start the day with a fabulous Tai Chi session at 8am. Visit our Planetary Health Pluriversity website to book in and learn more (link in profile): https://bmpluriversity.org/program/
Or ring 0407 437 553 for more information. #planetaryhealth #bushcare #katoomba #bluemountains #glossyblackcockatoos #landcare #biodiversity #habitat #wearenature #togetherwecan...
In this inspiring interview with Medlow Bath resident Amanda Foxon-Hill she talks about her work with Mid Lachlan Landcare, why Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo is so important, and why she loves her work so much! Read the full story in Blackheath Area Local News here: https://blackheathnews.com/connecting-landscapes-for-glossy-black-cockatoos/
Book in for the Growing Connected Landscapes Forum at 4pm this Saturday 7 June here: https://events.humanitix.com/growing-connected-landscapes-for-the-glossy-black-cockatoo Register your interest for the Community Tree Planting Day in Goologong here: https://events.humanitix.com/glossy-black-cockatoo-community-tree-planting-5
In a world that increasingly feels out of balance, we’re thrilled to be offering Saturday morning Tai Chi and Qigong at 8am this Saturday 7 June (and the first Saturday of every month on our Skill Share Saturdays). Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art and moving meditation for body, mind and spirit. It is ideal for learning to keep calm amidst chaos but also has health benefits to increase longevity. Harvard Medical School has reported that this gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life. It`s particularly popular in Hong Kong, where residents have one of the highest life expectancies in the world! T`ai-Chi has also been found to improve brain function (like memory and mental flexibility) faster than other exercise and, in a recent study, comparing T`aiChi to brisk walking, the martial art was found to be significantly better at reducing blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease, like blood sugar levels and cholesterol. If you’d like to try it out, you can reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3FxWPgR
Learn how to Grow Connected Landscapes for the magnificent Glossy Black Cockatoo at 4pm on Saturday 7th June. In our first Planetary Health Forum we’ll be hearing from Amanda Foxon-Hill from Mid Lachlan Landcare, Jayden Gunn from Birdlife Australia and Samantha (Pongi) Bowden from Glenbrook Public School, to learn more about the Glossy and how we can all help improve its habit from the Lower Mountains to Central NSW. We’re also launching a Community Tree Planting Day on 5 July in Goologong (near Cowra) to which we’re hoping we’ll get a large group of volunteers to help make a difference for this beautiful bird (and lots of other species as well!)
Habitat connectivity is essential if species are to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by our changing climate.
Join us as we imagine life as a Glossy Black Cockatoo. We`ll make our way through the temperate eucalypt forests of Dharug & Gundungurra land here in the Blue Mountains before leaving the Great Dividing Range for the Wheat & Sheep belt of the Central Tablelands. Our journey ends on Wiradjuri Land, North West of Cowra in the dry scleropyhyll forests of the Conimbla & Nangar National Parks, the start of the Western Woodland Way
Jayden Gunn is an adept wildlife photographer, ecologist, and environmental educator, with a deep passion for Australian birdlife. Through his lens, he captures Australia`s unique wildlife, using digital storytelling to connect people with nature in meaningful ways.
Links in profile to book in.
Book for the Forum here: https://bit.ly/43FzamP
Register your interest for the Community Tree Planting Day here: https://bit.ly/3HwYHa5
Watch an interview with Amanda here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77y2jrCzINo&t=52s
Read more about Glenbrook Public Schools work for the Glossy Black here: https://lowermtnslocalnews.com/glossy-black-cockatoos/
Julie Nance is a community storyteller with the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. In her coverage of the Lower Mountains area, she brings 30 years’ experience in communications, publishing and journalism.
After specialising in health and social issues as a journalist, Julie led creative teams in the government and not-for-profit sectors including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, YMCA NSW, Cancer Council NSW and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Julie is passionate about empowering people with quality information to help them make informed choices.
Julie Nance invited her 82-year-old mum to join her on outings in Lower Mountains parks, after months of being confined to home due to sickness. With fond memories of family picnics growing up, their quality time together in nature gave them both a much-needed lift.
