The School Cadets Program is continuing in 2010 and we need your help to make this year's program as good as 2009.

The photograph (above) was taken at Jindabyne High School. The students are given the opportunity to learn the bush firefighting skills that are covered in the BF training package.

The School Cadets Program would not be possible without the assistance of our volunteers and we need more help to continue this worthwhile program. We are looking for volunteers who can give us some time during the 10 week program. The program is conducted for 1/2 day (the sports period) each week during the 10 week program. Jindabyne H/S is conducting their program for 1/2 day each day over two full weeks.

Any interested volunteers can be hooked up with one of our more seasoned program delivery team to learn the ropes.

This program would be well suited to retired volunteers or perhaps those of you who could otherwise spare some time from your normal routine. Please don't limit your options to the schools in your area, we will help with transport.

The dates for the 2010 School Cadets Program are:

The aims of this program are to:

1. develop an interest in the RFS
2. encourage Cadets to continue service in the RFS or other community service
3. give Cadets a foundation of fire fighting knowledge, skill and discipline
4. develop the qualities of leadership, self-discipline, self-reliance, initiative and team work
5. provide training that will contribute to RFS Firefighter and Officer training
6. provide Cadets with a knowledge of Fire Safety & Preparedness

Please contact Fred Nichols (Fire Mitigation Officer / Community Safety) for more details of to express your interest.

Phone: 0427 250 758

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has ended the statutory Bush Fire Danger Period in the Monaro Team early due to continuing mild weather conditions.

From Monday 15th March 2010 fire permits will no longer be required for the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River Local Government Areas, but Jim Darrant, Monaro Team Manager said all residents must continue to adhere to the law regarding the use of fire for hazard reduction activities.

“Even though residents no longer require a fire permit, they must still notify their neighbours and relevant land management authorities 24 hours before burning,” said Mr Darrant.

“People also need to have a plan and adequate equipment to control and contain the fire to your property"

“Despite the mild conditions, there is still the potential for fires to cause damage to life, property and the environment, if not managed correctly"

“Serious penalties, including fines and even imprisonment, apply for allowing a fire to escape”

Mr Darrant said residents in Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River should be taking advantage of the benign conditions to begin preparing their properties for the next bush fire season.

“The prevailing conditions may be benign, but they present a good opportunity for landowners to get a head start for next season by conducting hazard reduction activities on their properties,” said Mr Darrant.

“Your local fire station or Fire Control Centre is able to provide advice on how to safely conduct hazard reduction activities on your property and how best to prepare for the next bush fire season"

“The greatest risk for our community is complacency, so I urge all residents to take the threat of bush fire seriously and prepare their families and home now”

For more information contact Monaro Team on 6455 0455 or visit rfs.nsw.gov.au.

This map is used to as a tool to assist Monaro Team firefighters plan for hazard reduction activities. For more information, click on an icon.

You can click Here to view the full Google version of the Hazard Reductions map.

Additional Hazard Reduction (HR) information is available on the Rural Fire Service website.

The Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSPs) initiative has made significant progression with the RFS receiving and validating the recommended NSP data for the majority of the State. The Monaro Team Community Safety Officer has been busy working with Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in all of our Local Government Areas on this project.
 
The NSP data that has been successfully validated has now been posted on the public website at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=1785

Please note that the not all NSP data for NSW has been received. In addition, some recommended NSP locations will require further investigation to confirm that they are identified correctly and can be spatially located.

The public website will be updated regularly as new data is received and validated.

We must emphasise that a NSP should only be considered as a place of last resort during a bush fire emergency. Emphasis should be placed on the completion of a Bush Fire Survival Plan well before dealing with an actual fire. If there is a suitable NSP close to your home. you should make a note of it in your Bush Fire Survival Plan.

Where is my closest Neighbourhood Safer Place?

The links (below) will take you to the RFS website at a page location to suit the following local government areas:

1. Bombala
2. Cooma-Monaro and
3. Snowy River

Neighbourhood Safer Places defined...

The Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) concept evolved after the Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ bush fires in February 2009. A Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) is a place of last resort for people during a bush fire. It can be part of your contingency plan, for a time when your Bush Fire Survival Plan cannot be implemented or has failed.

An NSP is an identified building or space within the community that can provide a higher level of protection from the immediate life threatening effects of a bush fire. NSP’s still entail some risk, both in moving to them and while sheltering in them and cannot be considered completely safe. They are a place of last resort in emergencies only.

Please visit the Rural Fire Service public website for more information.