Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Service

25/09/2026

Pile Burn Ready to go?... Before lighting up:
1. Check your pile complies - see pile guide attached (note pile size requirements)
2. Note Council's new Policy - Pile Burns have to be extinguished before sunset - No Pile burns after dusk.
3. Notify RFS 24hrs prior - online at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify
4. Notify neighbours 24hrs prior - in person, phone, message or note (Social Media post alone is not notification).
5. Check conditions are safe on the day
6. Ensure you have sufficient access to water to extinguish
7. Don't forget the marshmallows...
Contact Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Service if you have any queries or concerns.

07/09/2026

04/09/2026

TOTAL FIRE BAN 🚫 SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
❌ This means NO fires in the open air.
🔥 An extreme fire danger rating has been declared for Saturday.
👮 Penalties apply for breaking the rules.
ℹ️ www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

27/08/2026

Do you know what SWS is?

The Static Water Supply (SWS) Program enables Matcham-Holgate residents to help local firefighters by identifying existing water supplies (such as dams and creek access) that could be used for firefighting.

This helps firefighters access vital water supplies quickly and efficiently. Examples of suitable water supplies include:
• A property dam or creek access which can be used to refill fire tankers and firefighting aircraft such as helicopters which support our firefighters on the ground.
• Large water tanks with storz fittings and good access can also be used to quickly supply water for firefighting.

Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Brigade is currently revalidating existing SWS records for our area and inspecting SWS sites to assess accessibility and capacity.

If you have a dam or creek access with year round water supply, and you wish to be part of the SWS Program, message us on Facebook, call us on 4367 7563, or email us at [email protected]

26/08/2026

Fire season is approaching rapidly

Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Service Brigade has been busy taking part in Hazard Reductions (HRs) in our region, weather permitting. The most recent was in Mt White. Note: If you don't recognise our fire truck in the photos, it is because ours was being serviced and we were using a loan vehicle, Mooney 1, one of the latest additions to the RFS fleet. We liked it a lot 😊

Matcham Holgate Brigade has been serving our community since 1958. If you are interested in joining RFS and becoming a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. You can visit us at 15 Wattle Tree Road on any Thursday from 7 pm; this is typically our training night. Come in and meet the team, or message us on Facebook, call us on 4367 7563, or email [email protected]

19/08/2026

Today, AFAC News released the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for Spring. NSW experienced unseasonably warm conditions over winter, while rainfall has been variable. With parts of northern and south-eastern NSW receiving below-average rainfall, these areas are entering spring drier than usual.

Forecasts for early spring continue to point to below-average rainfall and unusually warm conditions with fuels expected to continue drying across NSW. The highest risk is expected to be in northern and south-eastern NSW, as these areas are already rapidly drying out. Forested areas in these regions are experiencing high fuel loads and are dense and well-connected, which is of particular concern.

While fire risk is expected to be elevated through early spring, rainfall prospects for late spring into early summer have shifted to a slightly wetter outlook, although some uncertainty remains.

If you live, work, or travel through bush fire-prone areas, ensure you are prepared. Review and discuss your bush fire survival plan so you know what to do if threatened by fire.

For more information, visit: www.afac.com.au/public-resources/seasonal-bushfire-outlook-spring-2026

10/08/2026

Some updates to Central Coast Council's Pile Burn Policy

Changes to Council’s Open Pile Burning Policy

Central Coast Council has adopted a revised Open Pile Burning Policy, with several important changes that better recognise the health, safety and environmental impacts of smoke from open pile burning.

The changes include:
• Burning is now restricted to daylight hours, with fires to be extinguished between sunset and sunrise.
• Burning must not occur during a temperature inversion or when specified air-quality limits are exceeded.
• Fires must not cause a smoke nuisance to neighbours or create a hazard for traffic, and must be extinguished immediately if they do.
• Burning should only occur after other disposal options, such as mulching, chipping or green-waste services, have been exhausted.
• Stronger protections have been included for woody debris that provides habitat for native wildlife.

I moved an amendment asking Council to undertake a community education and communication program so residents would understand these changes. Unfortunately, the Liberal and Team Central Coast Councillors did not support this.

A policy can only be effective if people know that it has changed and understand their responsibilities.

If you live in an area where open pile burning occurs, or undertake open pile burning yourself, I strongly encourage you to familiarise yourself with the new policy and its requirements.

https://cdn.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-07/open-pile-burning-policy_0.pdf

24/07/2026

George Slennett Memorial Update

Last month, members of the community, senior RFS officials, and past and present members of the Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Brigade gathered at the station to honour our former Captain and lifetime member, George Slennett, who was recently added to the National Emergency Services Memorial Wall in Canberra for his courage, dedication, and commitment to his community.

George’s citation and his memorial medal were presented to Joan Slennett, George’s wife and a lifetime member of the Brigade, by the Central Coast RFS District Manager. Slennett's children and their extended family were also present to share this very special day.

In addition to the memorial medal, Matcham Holgate Brigade officially announced the naming of the station's upstairs multi-purpose room as "The George Slennett Room", with Joan revealing the prominent sign now adorns the honour wall of the upstairs area. We’ll remember him.

The formal proceedings were followed by a BBQ brunch in the downstairs area of the station, where everyone cheerfully mingled and exchanged their recollections of George.

We thank everyone for their participation and contribution to this special event.

Matcham Holgate Brigade has been serving our community since 1958. If you are interested in joining RFS and becoming a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. You can visit us at 15 Wattle Tree Road on any Thursday from 7 pm – it is typically our training night. Come in and meet the team, or message us on Facebook, call us on 4367 7563, or email [email protected]

08/06/2026

Extending an open Invitation to Matcham-Holgate residents

Our former Captain and lifetime member of Matcham-Holgate Rural Fire Brigade, George Slennett, was recently added to the National Emergency Services Memorial Wall in Canberra. The wall bears the names of emergency services personnel who have died in the line of duty or as a result of workplace cancer, acknowledging their courage, dedication, and commitment to the community. NSW RFS acknowledged that George's early years of volunteer firefighting may have contributed to his condition, thus warranting his inclusion on the Memorial Wall.

We will host a brief ceremony and BBQ brunch at the station to present the national medals to George's family and officially announce the naming of the station's upstairs multi-purpose room as "The George Slennett Room".

You are invited to join the Brigade and the Slennett family for the occasion:

Date - Sunday 14th June
Time - 10 am
Location: Brigade Station – 15 Wattle Tree Road, Holgate

16/05/2026

Congratulations to Sharna for successfully completing her RFS Firefighter training & assessment at the Kariong Fire Control Centre today. As our latest Firefighter to join the Brigade, we look forward to her active participation going forward.

Matcham Holgate Rural Fire Service Brigade has been serving our community since 1958. If you are interested in joining RFS and becoming a volunteer, we would love to hear from you.

You can visit us at 15 Wattle Tree Road on any Thursday from 7 pm – it is typically our training night so come in and meet the team, or message us on Facebook, call us on 4367 7563, or email [email protected]