On 12th/13th January 2024, YRVBFB were part of a combined task force, led by DFES, with other brigades from City of Busselton and Augusta/ Margaret River to assist in a fire on private land on the Collie-Williams road in the Shire of Collie.
When the task force arrived, the fire was still at a ‘Watch and Act’ level. The teams spent two days building containment lines which proved to be a significant challenge due to high gusty winds and high ground temperatures.
Captain Matt Muir who attended on both days praised the work of all the crews from the Lower South West (LSW) considering the testing conditions.
Just a quick glimpse of some of the effort that goes into preparing the team for efficient action on the fireground. Consistency in training is always the key to effective responses and is essential for all personnel. Photographs provided by Training Officer, Mike Gray, from the brigade’s session on 19th December, the day after the Hebrides Close fire.
18th December 2023 all three of the Yallingup Rural appliances attended at Hebrides Close. This occurred in between two extreme fire danger rating days which was of high concern to the managing authorities. Both the Yallingup Rural and Dunsborough Brigades responded swiftly and brought the fire under control. The YRVBFB team assisted with a short, sharp exercise of mopping up and preventing further spread. The Fire Control Officer (FCO) monitored the area for flare-ups for a further seven days.
A very generous donation received in 2022 through our Donate page allowed the initiation of a project for a much-needed redevelopment of the Fire Station headquarters. The exact final dollar cost is an estimate, but based on the work done so far, the fundraising target for the Brigade’s contribution is $120,000. To reach our target, we have constructed a separate, dedicated website for fundraising for the project. For further details on the overall project, please visit this link, YRVBFB Fire Station Redevelopment.
Yallingup Rural works closely with our good friends in the Bushfire Ready community, who do a marvellous job helping residents and owners prepare their properties for and mitigate the risks associated with bushfires. This impacts the number and severity of incidents to which the Brigade has to respond, thereby speeding up our reaction time for those fires we must attend.
There is a wealth of good advice now available on their new website, which you can access easily by clicking on https://ydbfr.com/
This material is from earlier than 1st January 2024.
FIRE KNOWLEDGE QUIZZES (AND ANSWERS!)
Do you know (remember) all you should about acronyms, filling a truck, nature and characteristics of fires, duties and responsibilities of drivers and crew leaders, radio protocols, and MORE? You can download the quizzes (AND ANSWERS!) from Training Officer Mike Gray and his predecessor, Pete Seton-Stewart, by clicking on:
Yallingup Rural Christmas Party 10th December 2022
John and Barb Stevens generously made their beautiful home available for the Brigade members to get together with fellow fireys and their long-suffering and supportive partners to celebrate the festive season. Organised by maestro Mitch (supported by Jen, of course), everything went well ….. for most of us 😊😊😊. Below is a shot of Lieutenant Andy Jones grinning in unsuspecting anticipation as Captain Matty led everyone into the not-too-prestigious DIPSTICK award. He was wondering who would be this year’s winner.
No longer wondering…. Andy, a clear winner, proudly displaying the Dipstick Award 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS, Andy! 😊
[accreditation: photos courtesy J and B Stevens Galleries]
1st November 2022: THESE are the best-looking fireys we’ve got (sorry!)
Captain Matty had to advise that the planned professional photoshoot for an update of our website (and maybe training room?) had to be postponed till next year. Ok, it’s not exactly for a Calendar of bare-chests, oiled pecs and six-packs but this is what we had to work with ………
Anyway, you have to make do with what you’ve got but don’t worry, there is time to fix things. The lads are up for a regime of austerity and daily work-outs starting now!😊
Only kidding, guys. You are a great bunch of guys and damn fine-looking too! 😊 So much so, that this same photo now also graces our public home page. The lead photo on that page is selected randomly from a few others but each time you visit the page you get a different one appearing. If you are lucky, or visit ‘home’ often enough, this one comes up.
5th July 2022: Welcome Mia and Lawrence
It was cold on Tuesday evening for training but the heat from the controlled burn of hundreds of grass trees at Robert Donald Heights warmed things up. The Brigade members were also happy to extend a warm welcome to two newbies, Mia Krasenstein and Lawrence Fletcher. Lawrence is a retired chemical engineer and Mia is enthusastically building her career as an environmental consultant.
Our intrepid photographer caught a few snaps – see below: Left – Mia incognito in all her PPE getting tutelage from 1st Loot Mitch Centre – Mia facing the flames with branch in hand. Right – Lawrence and Mia taking a break from post-training refreshments.
29th December 2021: Tilly Road Fire – behind the scenes (THANK GOODNESS! 😊)
Our editorial team doesn’t always receive daring action shots supplied by intrepid photographers like Ross Miller, Dick Visser and Duncan Gardner (see public “News/Events” for Calgardup and Tilly Road fires). However, our regular contributors from M.M. Studios were there at the Tilly Road fire and, after undoubtedly courageous and brilliant work on the fireground, they were able to supply these shots below. We didn’t have explanatory notes on them but there was certainly action so we have arranged them in a sequence that seemed to us to be self-evident.
Well done and thanks, Matty and Mitch. 😊
22nd December 2021: Training night – lesson to be learned Todd and Bob show how it is (nearly!) done 😊
Images kindly supplied by D. G. Studios
(foreground) Todd and Bob are in step and in perfect sync: Todd on the branch (fully open) GREAT STYLE – A GREAT START! …. BUT….OOPS! GOT QUITE A KICK ON FULL POWER! 😊😊😊
22nd November 2021:No Grand Prizes – but there are some smileys here! 😊
Images kindly supplied by M.M. Studios
L-R: 1st Lieut Directive; Their best sides?; Stevo, Mitch, Matt and Alan
AND THE SMORTHWAITE GALLERY PRESENTS:
L-R: Kevin Natural; Kevin Reflecting; Kevin the Manificent
3rd March 2021: Caption Competition GRAND PRIZE TO BE WON!
Innovative captions are invited for the picture below of the irrepressible John Stevens communing with a tree on the fireground at Gidgegannup. There is no limit to the number of entries any one person can make. Enter your first thoughts NOW and if you get a better idea later, send in another. A WONDERFUL prize will be awarded to the winner. 😊
All entries by email please to the webadministrator or by sms to 0422905403.
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES Monday 15th March2021
February 2021: Mitch in ACTION in Gidgegannup
Not seen in a while – our First Lieutenant on the end of a hose but here it is – First Loot, Ian Mitchellin WORK MODE in Gidgegannup!
Jus’ jokin’, Mitch. We all know how much you put in. Good onya for getting up there.
Well done too, the other travellers from Yallingup Rural, John Stevens, Mike Gray and Alan Yardley. Good to have everyone safely back home.
January 19th 2021: Training- tough but satisfying
The team relax up on the hill overlooking Injidup Beach after a gruelling session on rake hoes organised by “train-’em-tough” Captain Matt Muir.
Yallingup Rural Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade 