RFS - Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade

RFS - Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade Official page of the Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade, run by volunteer members
of the RFS. We support all brigades across the Blue Mountains LGA.

The Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade (BMGSB) is run by volunteers of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). It operates from within the Blue Mountains Emergency Operations Centre in Katoomba, also known as the Fire Control Centre (FCC). The BMGSB formed in 2000, with the amalgamation of the Communications, Catering, Logistics, Planning and Fire Investigation units. The Fire Control Centre (FCC) for

ms the administrative and operational base of the RFS Blue Mountains District. The BMGSB assists with the coordination and management of local brigade resources to fires and other incidents – including natural disasters, motor vehicle accidents and other civil emergencies. Our main function is to support the 23 brigades within the Blue Mountains LGA, with any and all of their undertakings, serving and protecting our communities. Sections of the brigade include communications, catering, logistics, aviation and community engagement. From time-to-time Brigade members may perform other support functions required by the Blue Mountains FCC and other agencies. The BMGSB works closely with other agencies to respond to a range of emergencies across the Blue Mountains. Our members, at times, also deployed to other areas of the state and interstate, in times of need.

Training can happen throughout a TOBAN day when you have a possible 10hour shift and a communications probationary membe...
11/01/2026

Training can happen throughout a TOBAN day when you have a possible 10hour shift and a communications probationary member keen to observe and learn.

As we were lucky and only had the heat to battle yesterday we were able to let our trainee experience:
- a Concept of Operations Plan
- some fun activities in Athena COP (Common Operating Picture)
- locating the BOM weather data with hourly updates
- setting up a disposition board

and touring our Shed where numerous members were doing a total clean up, audit and restock of the Mobile Field Kitchen truck as well as cooking up a lunch for up to 15 working members of comms and catering, 2 IMT staff and 6 visiting Group Officers.

Thank goodness for air conditioning in the Shed.

New Year's Eve and a fire at Lincoln Rock! The District request for a catering crew came at 5pm. A quick grocery shop an...
31/12/2025

New Year's Eve and a fire at Lincoln Rock!
The District request for a catering crew came at 5pm.
A quick grocery shop and the MFK (Mobile Field Kitchen) was rolling down to Wentworth Falls RFB.

Not your usual way to entertain on NYE but the food was appreciated. Well done Catering Crew!!

When fires are across the state, but not at home, we volunteer to help out in other districts. Deploying to assist tired...
07/12/2025

When fires are across the state, but not at home, we volunteer to help out in other districts. Deploying to assist tired brigades in catering, communications and aviation is common.

We currently have 2 members working in catering for the Dubbo firefighters and 1 member dispatching trucks at Quirindi in the Upper Hunter district.

Deploying is on a 1-3-1 basis of one day travel, three days tasking and one return travel day.

Exhausting but rewarding work as you are providing the local catering and communication crews with some much needed support and rest time.

Fire Weather WarningGreater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, North Western, Upper Ce...
05/12/2025

Fire Weather Warning

Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, North Western, Upper Central West Plains and Lower Central West Plains fire weather districts

Issued at 4:10 pm Eastern Daylight Time on Friday 5 December 2025

TOTAL FIRE BAN - SAT 6th Dec 2025
For the Greater Sydney Area

Weather situation
Hot and dry conditions combining with fresh and gusty west to northwesterly winds are expected to bring increased fire dangers to central and northern NSW on Saturday ahead of a south to southwesterly wind change moving through in the afternoon and evening.

For Saturday 6 December

Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts:Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, North Western, Upper Central West Plains and Lower Central West Plains
Safety advice

The NSW Rural Fire Service advises you to:

Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.

Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.

Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

Fire Weather WarningGreater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and North Western fire weather districtsIssued at 4:37 am East...
30/11/2025

Fire Weather Warning
Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and North Western fire weather districts
Issued at 4:37 am Eastern Daylight Time on Monday 1 December 2025Issued at 4:37 am EDT on Monday 1 December 2025

Weather situation
Warm and dry conditions combining with fresh to strong and gusty west to southwesterly winds are expected to result in enhanced fire dangers.

For Monday 1 December

Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts:Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and North Western
Safety advice
The NSW Rural Fire Service advises you to:

Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.

Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.

Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

Crewing our third TOBAN day today. Standby crew ready for Monday if required.As we have communications as one function a...
29/11/2025

Crewing our third TOBAN day today.
Standby crew ready for Monday if required.

As we have communications as one function area of our Support Brigade we are required to 'take back' from the Operational Command Centre at Olympic Park on each total fire ban day. This means a crew of 2-3 members for up to 9 hours each on every TOBAN day. We are there to dispatch the trucks to potential fires or storm damage. That can tally up to 27hours (without travel time) in donated time.

Ask your local support brigade about the hours of time they accumulate to support the needs of their district.

We are clocking up a November total of 380+ hours.
A tiring month!!!

FIRE WEATHER WARNING Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Central Ranges, North Western and Upper Central West Plains ...
29/11/2025

FIRE WEATHER WARNING

Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Central Ranges, North Western and Upper Central West Plains fire weather districts

Issued at 4:15 pm Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday 29 November 2025Issued at 4:15 pm EDT on Saturday 29 November 2025

Weather situation
Warm and dry conditions, tending hot in the north, are combining with fresh to strong northwest to southwesterly winds today to produce enhanced fire danger. A fresh and gusty southwesterly change is currently moving through central parts of the State, with a southerly change along the southeast coast.

Warm and dry conditions combining with fresh to strong and gusty west to southwesterly winds on and west of the ranges, with fresh and gusty westerly winds ahead of a southerly change along the coast, are again expected to result in enhanced fire danger on Sunday.

For Saturday 29 November

Extreme Fire Danger in the following fire weather districts:Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, North Western and Upper Central West Plains
For Sunday 30 November

Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts:Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Central Ranges and North Western
Safety advice
The NSW Rural Fire Service advises you to:

Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.

Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.

Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

FIRE WEATHER WARNING Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, North Western and Upper Central West Plains fire weather dis...
28/11/2025

FIRE WEATHER WARNING
Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, North Western and Upper Central West Plains fire weather districts

Issued at 4:16 pm Eastern Daylight Time on Friday 28 November 2025Issued at 4:16 pm EDT on Friday 28 November 2025

Weather situation
Warm and dry conditions, tending hot in the north, will combine with northwest to westerly winds which will become fresh to strong during the morning on Saturday. A fresh and gusty southwesterly change over the west of the State during the morning will move east during the day, reaching the ranges and coast during the late afternoon and moving up the coast as a southerly change in the late afternoon and evening. Gusty thunderstorms are expected over much of the State, contracting to eastern parts during the day and clearing in the evening.

For Saturday 29 November

Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts:Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, North Western and Upper Central West Plains
Safety advice

The NSW Rural Fire Service advises you to:

Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.

Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and https://www.bom.gov.au

More Fire Danger Rating Info can be found at this link: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

Congratulations to our two Blue Mountains staff members, Tracy and Tristan, who recently graduated as Operational Office...
25/11/2025

Congratulations to our two Blue Mountains staff members, Tracy and Tristan, who recently graduated as Operational Officers Level 1 after 16 weeks of intensive training at the RFS Academy in Dubbo.

Sixteen weeks away from home and family is an enormous commitment. They have been missed, and we are very happy to have their skills, enthusiasm and training support back with us at the Katoomba Fire Control Centre.

20/11/2025

Plans were in place to bring our mountain crews home from their 12 hour night shift at the fire out west at Glen Alice. After a 7pm to 7am shift fighting the fire, the fatigue aspect was factored into the welfare of tired crews.

Our Blue Mts Capability Officer organised us to bus five truck drivers out there to transport the tired firefighters home as well as bring the empty trucks back. Much safer than adding another 2 hours to their time working the incident.

The rain came and cancelled to need at 4.40am so our drivers were able to return to bed. Everyone is safely back in the mountains.

It was a great plan! Well done to Adam, and the early birds who were prepared to make the drive out.

Support Brigades challenges are full of variety.

Setting up last weekend for one of the final district training days. Over 80 training events were catered for this year....
14/11/2025

Setting up last weekend for one of the final district training days. Over 80 training events were catered for this year.

Our mobile field kitchen truck is a rare beast. Tucked away in various compartments is a fridge, oven, barbecue, sink, urn, generator, trestle tables, utensils, aprons, spare gas cylinder, awning and a few chairs. It transports 4 crew members and is always popular with the troops.

Time for a good rest? Unlikely, as we all need a good feed sometimes and this truck is able to supply just that!

Address

3-9 Valley Road
Katoomba, NSW
2780

Website

https://bluemountainsgroupsupport.rfsa.org.au/

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