Remembering those who gave all. The NSW Rural Fire Service Plaque stands as a solemn testament to bravery and sacrifice. It honors three volunteer firefighters who died protecting the Blue Mountains community.
This NSW Rural Fire Service Plaque marks a spot of profound loss. On October 29, 1968, Captain Tom Chalmers and firefighters Greg Eley and Peter Hawkins lost their lives here. They were serving the community during a bushfire. Their sacrifice is etched into the very stone of this memorial.
Before 1997, bushfire fighting in NSW lacked a central command. Over 200 separate agencies operated loosely. Volunteer brigades formed the core. They worked along council lines under local Fire Control Officers. Funding came from insurance companies, councils, and the State Government.
Extreme weather in January 1994 led to over 800 bushfires. These fires burned 800,000 hectares and destroyed 205 homes. Four people died including a Wingello Bush Fire Brigade volunteer. A Coronial Inquiry led to a single entity for bushfire management. This was the start of change for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Rural Fires Act was enacted in 1997. Phil Koperberg became the first Commissioner. He had commanded fire agencies during the 1994 crisis. Koperberg shaped the legislation.
Organized bush fire control started with volunteer brigades. The first was at Berrigan in 1896. This NSW Rural Fire Service Plaque also honors that tradition. The 1890s saw devastating fires. The Red Tuesday fire of 1898 killed 12 people. It destroyed 2,000 buildings.
In 1916, the Local Government Act empowered councils. They could establish and manage bush fire brigades. The 1930 Bush Fires Act let councils appoint fire officers. They had powers like a Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigades.
The Bush Fire Advisory Committee formed in 1939. It lacked statutory powers. It publicized fire safety and the role of brigades. The committee helped create the 1949 Bush Fires Act.
That act modernized bush fire law. It gave councils wider powers. Volunteer brigades continued. Councils appointed officers. The Bush Fire Fighting Fund was established. Insurance companies, the state, and local governments financed it.
The Bush Fire Committee replaced the Advisory Committee. It advised on bush fire matters. It coordinated volunteer groups. It was responsible for community education.
In 1970, the Bush Fire Council replaced the Committee. A Coordinating Committee oversaw firefighting resources. A Chief Coordinator of Bush Fire Fighting was appointed.
The Department of Bush Fire Services formed in 1990. It coordinated government agencies during emergencies. It managed the Bush Fire Fighting Fund. However, brigades remained under local council control.
The NSW Rural Fire Service emerged in 1997. It repealed the Bush Fires Act. The Rural Fire Service Advisory Council was created. It advised on rural fire services.
A Bush Fire Coordinating Committee also formed. It managed rural fires. Management Committees created operation and risk plans.
The NSW Rural Fire Fighting Fund replaced the old fund. Insurance companies, councils, and the Treasury contributed.
Today, the NSW Rural Fire Service has over 70,000 volunteers. They are in 2,000 brigades. The agency attends approximately 30,000 incidents yearly.
The NSW Rural Fire Service headquarters is at Sydney Olympic Park. Regional offices mirror headquarters’ responsibilities. District Fire Control Centers are now state-controlled.
Volunteer brigades handle firefighting. Their role has expanded to include disaster recovery. They also assist at vehicle accidents and with search and rescue.
The NSW Rural Fire Service operates a large aircraft fleet. This includes a Boeing 737 Air Tanker and several helicopters.
The NSW Rural Fire Service Association represents volunteers and staff. It provides support and advocacy.
The NSW Rural Fire Service is more than just an organization. It is a community. This NSW Rural Fire Service Plaque reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice. The firefighters’ courage lives on in the service’s dedication.