NSW RFS - Lake George Communications Brigade

04/05/2026

🚒 Honouring Our Own this St Florian’s Day

Today, May 4th, we observe St Florian’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of firefighters. It is a significant day for the NSW Rural Fire Service, where we pause to reflect on the commitment, spirit, and sacrifices made by volunteers across the state.

At Lake George Communications Brigade, our work often happens behind the scenes and over the airwaves, but our connection to the frontline is absolute.

Today, we take a moment to:
• Remember: We pause to honour the memory of those members who are no longer with us.

• Celebrate: A massive congratulations to all RFS members being recognised with awards and commendations today.

To all our fellow firefighters—whether you’re responding to a call, coordinating a radio network, or supporting the fleet—thank you for your selfless contribution.

01/04/2026

🔥 And that’s a wrap on the 2025/2026 bushfire season!

To every volunteer who gave up weekends, sleep, and time with family to staff radios, coordinate comms, and support crews on the ground: thank you. You are the reason it works. 🙏

The cooler months are a great time to train, maintain equipment, and get ready for next season.

Stay safe out there and enjoy the break. We will be ready again when the time comes.

22/02/2026

🚒📻 Weekend Training in the Southern Highlands 📻🚒

This weekend Captain Wade headed to the Southern Highlands to deliver CAD training with the Southern Highlands Communications Brigade, working across two locations:

📍 Saturday – Mittagong
📍 Sunday – Picton

Over 22 volunteers came together across the weekend for practical, scenario-driven learning focused on strengthening incident logging, tasking discipline and situational awareness.

The room at Mittagong was full, engaged and energised. A great reminder that communications capability is built through peer to peer learning, shared experience and honest reflection.

The Picton crew were amazing on Sunday practicing all together supporting each other through scenarios.

As a Communications Brigade, we know that strong radio management and clear, structured logs directly support safer and more effective operations on the fireground. Training like this strengthens not just individual skills, but the whole network.

A big thank you to the NSW RFS Southern Highlands team for the invitation and the warm welcome. 👏

05/02/2026

Tomorrow our brigade will be standing up to support the forecast Extreme Fire Danger conditions across our area.

As a communications brigade, our role looks a little different, but it is just as important.

While crews are out on the trucks, we are on the radios, in CAD, and across our field mapping systems, providing the information, coordination and situational awareness that helps operations run safely and smoothly.

Even if there is no fire, Extreme days mean being ready. Checking systems, monitoring the network, and making sure we can support quickly if something happens.

We are also proud that one of our members will be assisting our neighbours in the Southern Tablelands during their own Extreme day, supporting their communications capability.

Quiet support in the background, but critical when it counts.

Stay safe and have a plan.

📻🔥

31/01/2026

🚨 Ten members from Lake George Communications Brigade visited the ACT Rural Fire Service helicopter base at Hume today.

🚁 The Brigade heard from the pilots and operators of the machines based in the ACT for the summer. Members looked at the water bombing and winching capabilities of Helitak 101 and 102 from Kestrel Aviation before checking over Microflite's Firebird 100 and it's mapping and live streaming capability.

📡 Aviation communication plays an important part in ensuring safe operations with several members of the Brigade being qualified Aviation Radio Operators.

13/01/2026

🌟 A few spots left for this Thursday’s Lake George Communications Brigade Information Session 🌟

We have a small number of places still available for this Thursday evening, so if you have been thinking about coming along, now is a great time to jump in.

The Lake George Communications Brigade plays a critical role in supporting bushfire and emergency operations across our region. We are the voices behind the scenes that help crews in the field stay safe, connected and informed when it matters most.

At the session you will

📻 Meet some of our volunteers

🗺️ See how we support real incidents

🚒 Learn how we work alongside firefighters and aircraft

❓ Ask questions in a relaxed, friendly setting

If you are interested but cannot make it this Thursday, please still register. We will be running more sessions in the coming weeks and will use the registration list to invite people to future dates.

👉 Register here https://forms.office.com/r/LpjVGHJU6w

Whether you come from a technical background or just want to give back to your community, we would love to meet you.

12/01/2026

What a weekend. 🔥📻

We stood up from 0900 Saturday due to Extreme fire conditions across the region. 🌡️🚒

Multiple fires started in neighbouring areas, and we supported the dispatch of a Lake George Strike Team. 🚒➡️ While that was unfolding, our major fire at Mayfield escalated quickly, with around 30 fire appliances committed. Almost at the same time, a fixed-wing fire spotter aircraft identified a fresh grass fire, and resources were tasked to respond. ✈️👀🌾🔥

Despite the pace, comms stayed calm, accurate and coordinated, because of the people behind the radios. 🎧✅

We maintained a continuous presence right through until 1700 Monday, when we completed our final shift and handed back. ⏱️📞 Firefighters and plant operators will be on the job for a couple of more days yet, working through mop up and recovery. 👩‍🚒👨‍🚒🚜🧹

We never forget that behind every callsign is a person. A neighbour. A friend. A family member. ❤️

And just as importantly, every person you see in these pictures is a volunteer. Their families, employers and loved ones support this work too, often quietly, so our community is protected when it matters most. 🙏🤝

If you would like to be part of this kind of work, keep an eye out for our upcoming Expressions of Interest posts. 📣👀

09/01/2026

⚠️ Extreme Fire Conditions – Tomorrow ⚠️

Tomorrow is forecast to bring Extreme fire weather conditions across our district.

The Lake George Communications Brigade will be on shift from at least 10am, providing communications support as part of the broader NSW RFS response.

A reminder that Facebook is not the best place for fire information.

For accurate and timely updates:
• 📱 Hazards Near Me is the primary source. Make sure alert zones are turned on.
• 📻 ABC 666 Canberra is the official emergency broadcaster for our region.

If you live, work, or are travelling in the area, please stay informed, have a plan, and follow advice from emergency services.

Stay safe.

🔥 Total Fire Ban – Lake George District 🔥
Saturday 10 January 2026

A Total Fire Ban will be in place tomorrow across the Lake George District, which includes the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council area.

The Fire Danger Rating is EXTREME, meaning conditions will be dangerous.

Fires will spread quickly and be extremely difficult to control.

Lives and homes are at risk.

Don’t wait to see smoke — leave early if your plan is to go.

🚫 No fires are permitted in the open.

We’re asking everyone to take this seriously:

Be prepared, not complacent.

Report all fires to Triple Zero (000).

Stay informed via the Fires Near Me app or www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

For information about what you can and cant do during a Total Fire Ban go to https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans/total-fire-ban-rules

Thank you for doing your part to help keep our communities safe.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

06/01/2026

🌡 Warm weather this week 🌡
Hotter conditions are forecast across the South East over the next few days.

Heat + summer visitors = higher risk, so please:
✅ stay hydrated and keep cool
✅ check on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours
✅ use Hazards Near Me (notifications ON)
✅ travelling? update your watch zones to where you are

Reliable info early is what helps people make good decisions.

21/12/2025

The Brigade is standing up today for our last rostered duty day for 2025.

Our duty days provide our members with practical experience managing incidents within the district through use of radio and computer logging and dispatch.

Of course if required, our Brigade is always on standby if incidents occur, all throughout the holiday period.

🎄 From all of us at Lake George Communications Brigade we wish you and your families a happy and safe Christmas and New Year holiday period and will see you back on the airwaves early in January 2026. 🎄

21/12/2025

🔥🚒 It’s that time of year again! As we gear up for the fire season, our awesome Equipment Officer Tyler has been busy giving our Operational Command Vehicle a thorough wash and tune-up. Check out the photos—there’s nothing like a bit of elbow grease 💪 to keep us ready to roll!

A huge thank you as well to the four folks who came along to our info session 🙌. We’re absolutely stoked that three of you have already submitted applications to join the Lake George Communications Brigade. Welcome to the (almost) team! 🎉

Don’t forget the RFS provides templates and plans to help you prepare for the season too. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/bush-fire-survival-plan