Axedale Fire Brigade

01/09/2026

Welcome to spring!

After shivering through three months of winter, we're close to no-coat weather.

While our emergency services across the state are busy preparing for the high-risk weather season, it's time for you to start preparing as well.

🔥 Prepare your property: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property

⛈️ How's your emergency kit looking? Check you've got the essentials: https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe/create-an-emergency-plan

📱 Make sure to have your watch zones set up on the VicEmergency app: https://linktr.ee/vicemergency

12/08/2026

Axedale Fire brigade carried out some BA training tonight for some of our new recruits and experienced members.
We simulated various scenarios including setting up hydrants, boosting / relaying from one truck to another, how to enter a burning building, the use of thermal imaging cameras and attacking a gas cylinder fire.
We also carried out some more training/ testing on our new Tanker 2 truck.
A great night by all involved.

11/08/2026

Did you know that almost two thirds of people who die in house fires have a disability?
On average, 18 people die in preventable residential house fires in Victoria every year.
CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria have an online learning module to support at risk people with planning for fire emergencies at home.
Prevent, Detect, Escape – Home Fire Safety for people at higher risk is made for people at increased fire risk, and for people who support or care for them. www.cfa.vic.gov.au/atrisk

20/07/2026

The national test of AusAlert is happening on Monday 27 July 2026 at around 2pm AEST. 📅

AusAlert sends near-instant emergency messages to compatible mobile devices like mobile phones, tablets and smart watches. It uses vibration, sound and on-screen messages to get your attention.

If your device receives the national test, it will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound for 10 seconds before stopping. As the national test is a Critical Alert, this happens even if your device is on ‘silent’ or ‘do not disturb’.

You may receive this test while driving, riding or using public transport. 🛻

If you are driving or riding, stay calm and don’t touch your device. ⚠️

The alert may also play through your vehicle’s speakers using Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or Bluetooth and may interrupt navigation or media like music or podcasts. 📱

🚨Mobile phone laws still apply – don't read or respond to the alert while operating a vehicle. Only check the message when your vehicle is turned off and it is safe and legal to do so.

🚌 If you receive an alert while on public transport, stay calm. Don't approach the driver about the alert.

This is just a test, and you do not need to do anything. You should always follow instructions or announcements from public transport staff.

13/07/2026

01/07/2026

Last month Axedale Fire Brigade held its general elections for the new Brigade Management Team for 2026-2028.
The new BMT is as follows.
Captain- Benji Harrold
1st Lieutenant- Andrew Strang
2nd Lieutenant- Peter Harkins
3rd Lieutenant - Dimitri Barbarino
4th Lieutenant- Ben Rice
Training Coordinators- Peter Harkins and Ian Cu***ng.
Community Safety Coordinator- Sue Harkins.
Health and safety Coordinator- Ben Rice.

Both the treasurer and Secretary roles are in a longer transition period than normal but will eventually filled in by - Annie Edwards.

The new BMT and the other members of the Axedale Fire Brigade would like to thank the outgoing BMT for all their work over the last two years.
A special thanks to our former Captain James Harkins for his leadership and dedication to our brigade and the Axedale community.
The picture shows James officially handing over the Captains role to Benji Harrold.

26/06/2026

20/05/2026

With things a little quiet at the moment for us, we thought we’d conduct little draughting training tonight for a couple of our new recruits tonight.
We’ve done this training before but normally in the daytime. We need recruits to do training in both scenarios as the darkness can sometimes throw up different challenges.

17/04/2026