16/07/2026
⚠️How many warnings does it take before somebody listens?⚠️
Across our volunteer fire brigades, we have outstanding young men and women stepping forward to protect their communities. They give their time freely. They train hard. They put themselves in harm's way when the pager goes off.
But many experienced volunteers are becoming increasingly concerned.
We are seeing young firefighters expected to operate in ageing appliances, receiving more classroom-based training and less practical field experience. Firefighting is not just theory. It is a skill learned through hands-on training, mentoring, and real-world experience.
Many of us are also questioning whether the people making critical operational decisions truly understand the realities faced on the fireground. Qualifications are important, but practical experience saves lives.
These concerns are not new. They have been raised repeatedly. Evidence has been presented. Warnings have been given. Yet too often those concerns appear to be dismissed.
This is not about politics. It is not about personalities. It is about safety.
If nothing changes over the next 12 months, what happens when a major campaign fire tests the system? What happens when inexperienced firefighters are placed in situations they are not adequately prepared for? What happens when decisions made far from the fireground have real consequences for those standing on it?
Nobody wants to see a tragedy. That is exactly why people are speaking up now.
Our young volunteers deserve the best training, the safest equipment, and leaders who listen to the people with decades of operational experience.
The time to act is before something goes wrong, not after.
