Gunning - Fish River Rural Fire Brigade

25/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

🔥🏠🔌🛏️ FIRE SAFETY | ELECTRIC BLANKETS

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✅ 🌀Always roll electric blankets when storing.

🚫☰ Never fold electric blankets when storing as this can damage the internal wires.

✅🔍Check electric blankets for frayed cords and other damage.

🔍 When inspecting the electric blanket prior to using:

1️⃣ Roll the electric blanket on top of your bed.

2️⃣ Run your hands over the top of the electric blanket to see that the wiring is in good condition and there are no irregularities.

3️⃣ Check that the cords are in good condition.

4️⃣ Plug the electric blanket in and wait five minutes for it to head up, rub your hands over the top, check for any hot spots.

✅🚮 If there is any fault with the electric blanket, throw it out and get a new one.

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ℹ️🏠 For more information on Fire Safety.

🌐 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/topics/home-fire-safety-checklist

24/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

🔥🏠🔋🔌 FIRE SAFETY | LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SAFETY

✅ Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools in the garage or shed, away from living areas and exit doors.

🚫 Never use or charge batteries or equipment showing signs of damage such as swelling, leaking, discolouration, or odours.

✅ Only use chargers that comply with relevant standards and have been supplied with, or deemed compatible with, your battery or device.

🚫 Never leave devices on charge for extended periods (e.g. overnight) or unattended.

✅ Switch off once fully charged.

🚫 Don't charge phones on your pillow or in bed, only charge devices on hard surfaces.

✅ Buy products from reputable brands and suppliers and avoid using second hand batteries.

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ℹ️🏠 For more information on Fire Safety | Lithium-ion battery safety

🌐 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/battery-and-charging-safety

24/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

🔥🏠 The Tuross Head Rural Fire Brigade and the Fire and Rescue NSW - Moruya Station were called out this early morning to a structural home fire.

🚒 Crews arrived on scene to find the void around the fireplace alight.

⚪🔊 All home occupants were safe due to being awakened by the smoke alarm.

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A couple of lessons to note from this incident:

✅⚪🔊 Have working smoke alarms installed and tested.

✅🧱🧹 Ensure flues and chimneys are regularly cleaned.

19/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

🧡 Wear Orange Wednesday – WOW Day 🧡

🧡 Today, we recognise, support and thank the State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers across our state and the nation.

⛈️🌪️💦🌊 These dedicated volunteers give their time to protect and support our community during storms, floods and other emergencies—often when they are needed most.

🧡 That commitment was clearly shown last New Year’s Eve, when volunteers from the NSW SES - Goulburn Unit gave up their New Years Year celebrations to help our town after the storm and flash flooding.

🧡 We acknowledge and thank the SES volunteers who give so much to help others:

🧡 The Community can leave a THANK YOU note on the virtual wall at: wowday.com.au







NSW SES - Goulburn Unit

18/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

🔥🏠🌾 FIRE SAFETY | WHEAT FILLED HEAT PACKS
(WHEAT BAGS OR WHEAT PACKS)

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📌 Fact:

🔥 Wheat bags can help pain, but they also have the potential to cause burns and fire if improperly used.

🔥 Firefighters have responded to numerous residential fires that have occurred due to wheat bags overheating in the microwave oven or wheat bags being used to warm bedding materials.

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📌 What you need to know:

✅⚠️🌾 Ensure the wheat bag you purchase comes with instructions and follow them carefully, especially when heating.

✅🔳🌾⏱️ Ensure the timer on the microwave oven is correctly set when heating your wheat bag. Accidentally setting 30 minutes instead of 3 minutes is easy to do and has caused potentially fatal fires.

✅🌾🤕 Only use wheat bags for direct application to body aches and pains.

🚫🌾🛏️ Wheat bags can ignite, and are not designed to replace hot water bottles for warming beds.

✅🔍🌾 Regularly check your wheat bag for signs of wear and tear or scorching. With age the fillings dry out and become combustible.

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📌 Remember:
🚫🔳🌾⏱️ Don’t overheat the wheatbag by placing it in the microwave longer than specified by the manufacturer.

🚫🔳🌾|🚶🏻‍➡️ Don’t leave the wheatbag unsupervised in the microwave.

🚫🛌🏻🧸👵🏼🌾 Don’t let anyone, particularly children or the elderly sleep with a wheat bag.

🚫🛌🏻 🌾 Don’t use the wheat bag to warm your bed up, as it may spontaneously ignite.

🚫🔳🌾🌡️ Don’t reheat the wheatbag before it has properly cooled.

✅🌾❄️ A wheatbag should be cooled down on a non-combustible surface before storing.

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ℹ️🏠 For more information on Fire Safety | Wheat filled heat packs (wheat bags or wheat packs)

🌐 https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/topics/wheat-filled-heat-packs

18/05/2026

17/05/2026

Hi Gunning Community,

❤️💙 National Volunteer Week ❤️💙

👨‍🚒 This week is National Volunteer Week, a time to thank the volunteers of the NSW Rural Fire Service for their time, effort, and expertise they dedicate throughout the year to protecting our communities.

🚒 Whether participating in firefighting operations, training, community engagement initiatives, administrative, accountancy, or catering support, the Brigade recognizes and values the diverse ways in which our volunteers actively support our Brigade.

👏 This week is also a time to warmly recognise and thank the volunteers from other organisations whose support has meant so much to our Brigade and the wider community.

❤️💙 This year’s theme: YOUR YEAR TO VOLUNTEER.

❤️💙 “Your Year to Volunteer” honours the contributions of volunteers and invites people across Australia to make 2026 a year of meaningful involvement, in ways that work for them.

❤️💙 This year is a moment to thank those who already give their time and to invite others to discover how volunteering can create connection, purpose, and lasting positive change.

👏 To our Brigade members, every member of the NSW RFS, and fellow volunteers across the state and beyond—thank you for your generosity, commitment, and the difference you make in communities every day.

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ℹ️ To join the Brigade or learn more, contact our community engagement team on Facebook or visit us at the station on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm.

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/join-the-nsw-rfs

14/05/2026

Smoke alarms, unlike wine, do not age well over time.

Did you know that most smoke alarms have a use-by date? Some modern smoke alarms have a life-span of up to ten years and may not have a battery to change, making it easy to forget how long since they’ve been installed.

Remember to regularly clean and test your alarms, and check the use-by date to help keep track of their age.