A SELECT and engaged group of NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers from the Macleay and Nambucca valleys have been taking the step up in working toward becoming Advanced Firefighters (AF).
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Despite the limitations of COVID-19, Lower North Coast Zone training coordinator Christian Yanni has put together a condensed program to bolster skills on 'the line' ahead of the 2020-21 bushfire season.
A key pillar of the training has been the opportunity for bush firefighters to move toward the AF.
This is a demanding and lengthy course, which covers all aspects from crew welfare and wildfire behaviour through to navigation.
Today, at the Nambucca Fire Control Centre at Macksville, the group were tackling hydraulics and pumps.
Captain Steve Hughes from Eungai brigade was one of the trainers of the 24-strong volunteers sitting the course.
"This is an important opportunity because AFs can work independently (on the fireground) as required."
For firefighter geeks, one of the stars of the show has been a new toy - a nozzle box - which Operational Officer Christian Yanni dreamt up.
"Basically we have developed a local training prop which simulates the use of 12 hose lines, where we don't have to have firefighters on the end of each line. The nozzle box is submerged into a portable manufactured rubber dam, so we don't end up with any water wastage when we're doing pump training," Christian said.
Certainly the AFs-in-waiting were enjoying the hands-on nature of the course - with volunteers coming from as far north as Valla and south to Kundabung for the exercise at Macksville.
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