Toorloo Fire Brigade

20/08/2026

🔥 SPRING BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK – NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE 🔥

AFAC News has released the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Spring, and the message for Victorians is clear this year’s bushfire season may start earlier than usual.

Drought-affected areas across parts of eastern and western Victoria are facing an increased bushfire risk heading into spring and summer.

Under the forecast conditions, there is potential for multiple large fires to occur from as early as October across parts of the state.

🚒 For our local community, now is the time to start preparing not when the smoke is already in the air.

A few simple jobs now can make a big difference:

📋 Review and update your Bushfire Survival Plan
🌱 Mow long grass and keep vegetation maintained
🏡 Clear leaves and debris from gutters and around buildings
🪵 Move firewood and other combustible materials away from your home
🚗 Think about when you will leave, where you will go and what route you will take
💧 Check your water supply, pumps and hoses if they form part of your fire plan

If you live in or around Toorloo Arm, Lake Tyers Beach and our surrounding communities, please don’t leave preparation until the last minute.

Over the coming months, Toorloo Fire Brigade will continue sharing information to help our community prepare for the upcoming fire season.

🔥 Prepare early. Have a plan. Know your triggers. Stay informed.

For more information about preparing your property for bushfire, visit the CFA website:
cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property

🚒 Toorloo Fire Brigade
Preparing together for the season ahead.

AFAC News has released the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Spring. The outlook suggests an earlier start to the bushfire season this year. Drought-affected areas in parts of eastern and western Victoria are facing an increased bushfire risk leading into spring and summer.

Under the forecast conditions, there is potential for multiple large fires starting as early as October across parts of the state.

Now is a great time to start preparing your plan and property, including:
📋 Updating your fire plan
🌱 Mowing long grass
🏡 Clearing gutters.

For more tips on how you can get ready for the upcoming fire season, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property.

03/08/2026

Something to think about 🤔🚒

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

Come on down and grab an egg and bacon roll or a snag in bread at the Lakes Entrance Foreshore Market and support Toorloo Fire Brigade who are donning 25kg of gear to compete in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair ClimbLakes Entrance Lions Clubnce Lions Club support 🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒

26/07/2026

🚨 **AusAlert National Test – Today at 2:00 pm** 🚨

The Australian Government will conduct the first national test of the new **AusAlert emergency warning system** today, Monday 27 July 2026, at **2:00 pm AEST in Victoria**.

📱 If you have a compatible mobile phone, tablet or smartwatch, you may receive a test emergency alert. Your device may:

🔊 Sound a loud warning tone for around 10 seconds
📳 Vibrate—even if it’s on silent or “Do Not Disturb”

**Don’t be alarmed—this is only a test.** It will help ensure the new system is ready before its official launch in October 2026.

As your local CFA volunteers, we encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with emergency warning systems and ensure their devices are up to date.

Being informed is one of the best ways to stay safe. ❤️🚒

🚨 AusAlert National Test – Monday 27 July 2026 🚨

The Australian Government will be conducting the first national test of the new AusAlert emergency warning system on Monday 27 July at 2:00 pm AEST (Victoria).

📱 If you have a compatible mobile phone, tablet or smartwatch, you may receive a test emergency alert. Your device will:
🔊 Sound a loud warning tone for around 10 seconds.
📳 Vibrate, even if it’s on silent or “Do Not Disturb”.

Don’t be alarmed – this is only a test to ensure the new system is ready before it officially launches in October 2026.

As your local CFA volunteers, we encourage everyone to take a moment to familiarise themselves with emergency warning systems and ensure their devices are up to date.

Being informed is one of the best ways to stay safe. ❤️🚒

24/07/2026

🚨 Product safety recalls - fire risk 🚨

🚗 Volvo XC40 2020-2021
Due to a manufacturing defect, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective. As a result, it could cause a thermal overload leading to a vehicle fire when the vehicle is fully charged.
Full recall: https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006647

🚗 BMW 2 3 4 and 5 series plus X3 X4 and Z4 2020-2025
Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit. If this occurs, the driver may be unable to start the engine, and in the worst case, the overheating can lead to a fire during vehicle operation.
Full recall: https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006668

🚗 BMW 330e iPe, 530e iPe and 740 iPe 2015-2020
Due to a manufacturing defect, moisture may be able to enter the starter motor causing corrosion and result in the engine not starting. Additionally, this may cause a short circuit while the vehicle is in operation or parked, potentially leading to a vehicle fire.
Full recall: https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006667

16/07/2026

Some good information for people who might of been under the impression that it’s a tracking system.

12/07/2026

🚒 **Toorloo Fire Brigade is climbing again!** 🚒
🚒Click on this link to donate🚒

https://www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/toorloo/

On 12 September 2026, our team will tackle the 28 floors of the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb wearing up to 25kg of firefighting gear to raise funds for cancer research, crisis support, and first responder wellbeing.

A huge shout-out to our climbers:
🔥 Mel Zagami
🔥 Dino Zagami
🔥 Sam Ditchburn
🔥 Nick Bain
🔥 Mandy Walker
🔥 Adam Billings

This year we have a record number of climbers and are already sitting in 12th place on the fundraising leaderboard. We'd love to push even higher and show what the Toorloo and Lakes Tyers community can achieve together.

Every donation makes a difference and supports the amazing work of Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, and 000 Foundation.

Please get behind our team and help us make every step count. Thank you for your support! 🙏💙❤️

🚒💪

12/07/2026

🚨 AusAlert National Test – Monday 27 July 2026 🚨

The Australian Government will be conducting the first national test of the new AusAlert emergency warning system on Monday 27 July at 2:00 pm AEST (Victoria).

📱 If you have a compatible mobile phone, tablet or smartwatch, you may receive a test emergency alert. Your device will:
🔊 Sound a loud warning tone for around 10 seconds.
📳 Vibrate, even if it’s on silent or “Do Not Disturb”.

Don’t be alarmed – this is only a test to ensure the new system is ready before it officially launches in October 2026.

As your local CFA volunteers, we encourage everyone to take a moment to familiarise themselves with emergency warning systems and ensure their devices are up to date.

Being informed is one of the best ways to stay safe. ❤️🚒

11/07/2026

As a CFA Captain, reading about incidents like this is incredibly disturbing.

Every one of us who volunteers accepts that we’ll be called out at all hours to help complete strangers on what is often the worst day of their lives. We do it because we care about our communities. What we should never have to accept is abuse, aggression or reckless behaviour that places emergency responders, patients and the public at even greater risk.

The incident at Bena is a timely reminder that when emergency services close a road or ask you to turn around, it isn’t to inconvenience you. It is because there are hazards you may not be able to see. Whether it’s firefighters working on the roadway, paramedics treating patients, police managing a dangerous scene, or a rescue helicopter preparing to land, every direction given is about one thing—keeping people alive.

To verbally abuse a volunteer who is simply doing their job is unacceptable. To drive beneath a helicopter that is only metres from landing at an active emergency scene is beyond comprehension. These split-second decisions have the potential to end in tragedy.

Please slow down. Be patient. Follow the directions of emergency service personnel, even when it’s frustrating or causes a delay. A few extra minutes of your time is insignificant compared to the consequences of ignoring those directions.

At the end of the day, every patient deserves the best possible care, every member of the public deserves to get home safely, and every emergency service volunteer deserves to return home to their family after answering the call for help.

Thank you to the many motorists who continue to show patience, respect and understanding. Your cooperation allows us to focus on what matters most—saving lives and keeping everyone safe.

Last night, our members, alongside Loch CFA Fire and Rescue, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria, responded to a motor vehicle accident on the South Gippsland Highway at Bena.

The highway was completely blocked due to the accident, and all emergency services worked as quickly as possible to establish traffic management and roadblocks while prioritising patient care.

While the vast majority of motorists were understanding and followed directions, unfortunately one of our volunteers were verbally abused after asking a driver to turn around. Our members are volunteers who give up their own time to help the community. No one deserves to be abused while carrying out their role and working to keep everyone safe.

Also during the incident, an Ambulance Victoria helicopter was circling to locate a suitable landing area on the road. Although there was not yet a roadblock at the intended landing site, it was clearly an active emergency scene with multiple emergency service vehicles present. Alarmingly, while the helicopter was only metres from landing and clearly visible to all road users a vehicle drove directly beneath it, placing everyone involved at unnecessary risk. The helicopter then diverted to the Korumburra Showgrounds.

We ask all road users to please be patient and respect the directions of emergency service personnel. Road closures and traffic diversions are put in place to protect patients, emergency responders and the public.

Thank you to everyone who showed patience and understanding while crews worked at the scene. Your cooperation helps us do our job safely and ensures we make it home to our own families.