Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade

01/09/2026

BUSHFIRE SEASON ☀️🔥Today marks the first day of Spring - a timely reminder that as the weather heats up, so does the risk of bushfires.

We've already seen the Rural Fire Service crews in action responding to multiple blazes over the weekend and today, I joined Bushfire Mitigation Officer Ian Clark to remind Townsville residents to be prepared.

- Have an emergency plan and kit ready
- Clear your yard of excess growth and hazards
- Call 000 if you see a fire and in an emergency

Find out more through our Get Ready Townsville Guide �https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3128/get-ready-guide_2026.pdf

Nick Dametto Mayor of Townsville

16/08/2026

🔥 BRIGADE TRAINING & MEETING — TOMORROW 🔥

A reminder that we have our regular brigade night tomorrow!

🚒 1800 — Brigade Training
Come along for an evening of practical training and getting some hands-on time with the gear.

📋 1900 — Brigade Meeting
Following training, we’ll hold our regular brigade meeting.

Everyone is encouraged to come along, get involved and have a chat with the crew. See you all tomorrow! 👋🚒

01/08/2026

💙 Thank You, Townsville! 💙

As RFSQ Week comes to a close, the members of Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community for your ongoing support.

Whether you’ve liked, shared or commented on our posts throughout the week, attended our events, or simply taken the time to learn more about what we do, your encouragement means the world to our volunteers.

A special thank you to the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys for recognising local emergency service volunteers and featuring our brigade on the big screen during Thursday night’s game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. It was a proud moment for our members and a wonderful way to highlight the dedication of volunteers who serve our community.

To everyone who supports not only our brigade but volunteers across Queensland—thank you. Your support helps make what we do possible.

From all of us at Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade, thank you for standing with your local volunteers. ❤️🚒

01/08/2026

🎉 RFSQ Week 2026 – Thank You!

As RFSQ Week comes to a close, we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to every volunteer who gives their time, skills and heart to the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade.

This week, we’ve shared the stories of just a few of the incredible people who make our brigade what it is. From experienced leaders and trainers to new members, support volunteers and those working behind the scenes, every person plays an important role in keeping our brigade and community strong.

Volunteering with the Rural Fire Service is about so much more than responding to emergencies.

It’s about learning new skills.
It’s about supporting your community.
It’s about friendships, teamwork and belonging.
It’s about ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things.

To every volunteer—thank you for the early mornings, the late nights, the training, the call-outs, the community events and the countless hours you give without expecting anything in return. Your commitment, dedication and willingness to serve make a real difference.

To our families, employers and the wider community, thank you for supporting our volunteers. We couldn’t do what we do without you.

If you’ve followed along this week and found yourself wondering, “Could I do that?”—the answer is yes.

You don’t need previous firefighting experience. You don’t need to live on a farm. You simply need a willingness to learn, a desire to help others and a commitment to being part of a team.

Come along to one of our Monday night training and meeting nights, meet our members and see what we’re all about. Whether you’re interested in firefighting, community education or supporting the brigade behind the scenes, there’s a place for you.
From all of us at the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade, thank you for celebrating RFSQ Week with us.

We’ll see you on the fireground, in the community and around the brigade shed.

❤️💛

30/07/2026

👩‍🚒 Who We Are as a Brigade

This RFSQ Week, we’re celebrating what makes Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade more than just a firefighting brigade.

Our members come from all walks of life. Some grew up on farms, others in the suburbs. We’re teachers, tradies, public servants, parents, students and retirees. What brings us together isn’t where we come from—it’s a shared commitment to supporting our community.

Member Representative Sarah Weekes said that creating a welcoming culture has become one of her biggest passions.

“If I didn’t want to be involved because the culture was poor, how could I expect anyone else to? Our brigade is nothing without our volunteers, and every member deserves to feel heard, valued and supported.”

That belief reflects who we strive to be as a brigade.

Whether it’s your first Monday night training, your first fireground deployment or your first time learning a new skill, there’s always someone willing to mentor you, encourage you and help you succeed.

Sarah also wants the community to know that the people behind the yellow uniforms are just ordinary locals.

“We are you. We’re your neighbours, your workmates and your friends. We genuinely care about our community and want to help when people need us most.”

For anyone considering volunteering, her advice is simple:

“It costs you nothing to give it a go. Come along to a Monday night meeting, meet the members, watch some training and see what we’re all about. You can learn new skills, make lifelong friends and decide if it’s right for you. There’s no lock-in contract—just the opportunity to be part of something special.”

Thank you to every volunteer who makes Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade the welcoming, supportive and community-focused brigade that it is.

📷 We’d love to hear what Round Mountain means to you. Share your favourite memory or tell us what you love most about being part of our brigade in the comments.

❤️💛

29/07/2026

❤️ Thankful Thursday
This RFSQ Week, we’ve celebrated the firefighters who respond when the pager goes off. Today, we’re recognising another group of volunteers who are just as important to our brigade.

A huge thank you to our Community Educators and Support Crew.

Whether you’re rolling up to the fireground with a hot BBQ, helping educate our community about bushfire preparedness, lending a hand behind the scenes, or simply making sure our crews are looked after, your support never goes unnoticed.

There’s nothing quite like seeing the support vehicle arrive after a long day on the fireground. A cold drink, a hot snag and a friendly smile can make all the difference.

Your time, care and commitment help keep our volunteers going, and your contribution is just as valued as those on the frontline.

To our Community Educators and Support Crew—thank you for everything you do.

❤️💛

29/07/2026

👨‍🚒 Volunteer Spotlight – Alastair Casey

This RFSQ Week, we’re celebrating the people who make our brigade what it is.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on Alastair Casey, who has been a dedicated member of the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade since October 2018.

Alastair has embraced every opportunity to learn and develop his skills. From pump operations and truck driving to understanding fuel loads and fire behaviour, every season has expanded his knowledge and strengthened his ability to respond when our community needs him.

One of the things that has stood out most to Alastair is the incredible sense of family within the Rural Fire Service. The friendships, teamwork and support shared within our brigade and across neighbouring brigades have become some of the most rewarding parts of his volunteering journey.

Alastair is passionate about sharing his knowledge and helping fellow volunteers build their confidence. His deployments to Glen Innes and Nowra during the 2019–2020 bushfire season were defining experiences that strengthened both his skills and his commitment to protecting communities.

Looking ahead, Alastair is working towards completing his Training and Assessment (TAE) qualification and furthering his firefighting qualifications so he can step into a team leader role. His goal is to continue growing as a firefighter while helping develop the next generation of volunteers and strengthening the capability of our brigade.

Thank you, Alastair, for your dedication, passion for learning and commitment to supporting both our brigade and the wider community. We’re grateful to have you as part of the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade.

📷 Share your favourite photo or memory of Alastair in the comments below!

❤️💛

27/07/2026

👨‍🚒 Volunteer Spotlight – Drew Barrett

This RFSQ Week, we’re celebrating the people who make our brigade what it is.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on Drew Barrett, who joined the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade in 2024 after fellow volunteers from Surf Life Saving encouraged him to give rural firefighting a go. One conversation was all it took—and he’s been part of the brigade ever since.

Drew enjoys being part of the brigade because every training night brings new skills, new experiences and new challenges, making each one both rewarding and enjoyable.

A standout training experience for Drew was our recent live fire extinguisher and fire blanket exercise. Getting hands-on experience extinguishing real fires was a great learning opportunity—and it also means he’s well prepared if dinner ever gets a little too well done! 🔥🍳

For Drew, one of the most meaningful moments of his time with the brigade came during the 2025 Ingham flood response, where members worked together to help the community clean up and recover. It reinforced what volunteering is all about—being there for people when they need it most.

When asked what he’d like the community to know about Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade, his answer was simple:

“We’re always there to help.”

Looking ahead, Drew is excited to respond to more incidents, knowing that every call-out presents new challenges and opportunities to grow as a firefighter. He’s also working towards completing his Training and Assessment (TAE) qualification so he can help deliver training and support future brigade members.

His advice for anyone considering joining the brigade?

“Take the leap. It’s one of the most rewarding and challenging things you can do.”

And because every brigade has its essentials… Drew’s go-to fireground drink is Pepsi Max. 🥤

Thank you, Drew, for your enthusiasm, commitment to learning and willingness to serve our brigade and community. We’re proud to have you as part of the Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade.

📷 Share your favourite photo or memory of Drew in the comments below!

❤️💛

27/07/2026