Our First Responders

In 2019/2020 Australia experienced the worst bushfire season in living memory.

From July 2019 until March 2020 fires raged across the entire country and more than 11 million hectares were burnt.

In NSW the fires burned for over 240 days and destroyed over 5.4 million hectares. This accounts for about 7% of the state. This included 37% of the national parks in NSW and over 2,000 homes lost.

In Victoria 1.2 million hectares were damaged.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment listed 113 native species as requiring “emergency intervention” as a result of the damage from the bushfire season and over 1 billion animals are estimated to have died.

Firefighters in a station taking a selfie
In the Albury Wodonga region volunteers from both the RFS and CFA put their jobs on hold and left their families to go and fight bushfires in other parts of Australia.
Two men talking on an ATV
From the very start of the season our first responder volunteers were being sent all over the country...
Firefighter putting out a smoldering log
...until the fires came right into our backyard.

Locally, on 29 December 2019 a lightning strike in Green Valley at Talmalmo started a huge fire that ran for 85 kilometres through Corryong to Tom Groggin Station before jumping the Murray River into Victoria. The fires were so fierce and fast they created an enormous pyrocumulonimbus cloud which suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed on itself, causing the death of volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul. The Green Valley fires were not officially declared over until 18 February 2020 and 8 houses and 22 outbuilding were devastated.

On 10 January 2020 Wodonga homes came under threat as a grass fire broke out at Beechworth-Wodonga Road. The fire spread to Bears Hill heading towards Barranduda and Killara and eventually covering 250 hectares. Many residents were evacuated and more than 200 homes lost power but thankfully no houses or lives were lost.

Podcasts

Firefighter operating hose on truck
The Worst Fire Season Australia Has Ever Seen
Description: NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage talks about the 2019/2020 fire season.
DURATION: 2:16mins
Hillside on fire
Fighting the Green Valley Fires on 29 December 2019
Description: Ian Avage, NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB discusses the Green Valley fires that resulted in the tragic death of volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul.
DURATION: 7:20mins
Firefighter putting out small flames with rucksack
Experiencing the Fires for the First Time
Description: Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade speaks about his first experience facing serious bushfires on 30 December 2019 with his crew leader Dave Rossiter Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications.
DURATION: 5:21mins
Firefighter creating firebreak with torch
What’s Involved in Being a Volunteer Firefighter
Description: An insight into a day in the life of a volunteer firefighter during the height of a bushfire season and what kind of training is required to join by Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB) and Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade).
DURATION: 4:50mins
Flames in distance behind town
A Tribute To The Volunteers & Support Services
Description: Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB), Brent Jackson (Firefighter, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) and Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) acknowledge the vast network of volunteers and emergency services who form part of the essential front line teams for our first responders.
DURATION: 6:35mins
Burnt out farmland
The Impact of the 2019/2020 Fires
Description: The after effects of this fire season will be devastating financially and emotionally for the communities who have been impacted, say Ian Avage (NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB), Dave Rossiter (Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications, Wodonga West Fire Brigade) and Brent Jackson (Firefighter, Wodonga West Fire Brigade).
DURATION: 4:07mins

Donations

The purpose of the Our First Responders project is to pay tribute and give voice to the many people who risked their lives and livelihoods to protect the Albury Wodonga community from this bushfire season. Special thanks to NSWRFS Deputy Group Officer and member of the Splitters Creek RFB Ian Avage, Lieutenant Recruitment and Communications Dave Rossiter and Firefighter Brent Jackson of Wodonga West Fire Brigade for volunteering your time not only towards the actual firefighting but also towards this project.

Our First Responders was made possible because of the generous donations from: