Mosquito Creek Rural Fire Brigade

29/01/2026

🤝 Community Strength in Action

Community safety isn’t just about fire trucks and sirens—it happens when we are all active, prepared, and working together.

A few years ago, we were invited to provide fire and safety education to the Altona Power Boat Club. It was great to see a club so proactive in educating their members on fire preparation. Since then, they have been wonderful supporters of our Brigade and our efforts to keep the community safe.

Nothing, however, could have prepared us for a visit from Club members Paul and Mick last weekend! The members of Altona Power Boat Club have donated $1,000 to our brigade. This donation will go a long way in helping us protect our local area and develop our fire station into a space that can be used for community response in times of emergency. We are extremely grateful for the donation and support.

It has been a very long summer, and this kind of support does more than just build our capability—it does wonders for our morale. It is a great reminder that whether you are visiting from Melbourne to get out onto Lake Eppalock or living in the local bush, we’re all in this together.

We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to:

The Elmore Pacing Cup & supporters: For your wonderful donation of $540. Thank you to everyone who dug deep at the track!

Say Cheese Pizza Strathfieldsaye: For your delicious support and donation. Local businesses like yours provide such vital support to our team.

Thank you for having our backs and contributing to the safety of our community! 🚒💨

25/01/2026

24/01/2026

The Can I, Can’t I twins talking us through using a BBQ throughout the Fire Danger Period. 🔥

23/01/2026

🔥 TOTAL FIRE BAN 🔥
Saturday - 24th January

A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the whole state of Victoria - Saturday 24 January 2026.

No fires can be lit, or be allowed to remain alight, in the open air from 12:01 AM until 11:59 PM. more information: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firebans

11/01/2026

Night Shift: Where the magic happens.

A glimpse of life beyond the media images of the ‘big fire.’

Night shift is a time when the fire often calms. It brings a different pace, a chance to strengthen containment lines, and a whole new set of risks and rewards.

Last night, Saturday 10th January, your brigade at Mosquito Creek had eight firefighters working through the dark. Women and men, from their 20s to their 60s—all with different skills and personalities, but all focused on one thing: doing some good for their community.

The work is dangerous. Darkness and smoke swallow the light of torches, making hazards nearly invisible. Burnt trees crash to the ground, with only the sound to warn you they’re coming. There are holes and divots, broken fences, fallen powerlines, and rocks lying in the dark. Then, there is the raw mental and physical challenge of working from dusk to dawn.

Some firefighters love the night; others less so. But it is vital work.

Nic, a friend of the Brigade and ex-CFA/Parks Victoria firefighter, sums it up perfectly: “Night shift is never fun, but it’s really important to keep a check on the fire and give locals a chance to sleep, knowing someone has them covered.”

But the night also brings camaraderie and scenes of immense beauty. In the quiet of the early morning, you talk to keep each other going. That is when you really get to know your crew; it’s when you bond through shared experience.

In the past week, "Mozzie Creek" members have attended vehicle accidents, unattended campfires, and bushfires from Cobram to Axe Creek and then to Harcourt and Ravenswood.
Tonight, Sunday, another six members will leave their warm beds and families to do it all again.

Some will love it, others won’t—but they’ll all be there. Volunteering and keeping each other going through the small hours of dark.

As for the "magic"? It’s in the views, the teamwork, and as Andrew says “how at 3:00 AM when you’re tired and sore—a cup of instant coffee can magically taste like the best barista-made brew in the world.”

10/01/2026

Critical information that could help keep you safe

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Z1EHZmPmH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you see +61 444 444 444 pop up on your phone, it's important you do not block it.

This phone number is linked to Emergency Alert, a national telephone warning system used by emergency services across the country to send voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobiles within a specific area to warn people about current emergencies.

Emergency Alert is not used in all situations, so it’s important to rely on more than just one source of emergency information.

Stay informed, download the VicEmergency app and visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

Follow our region-specific pages for information tailored to your local area.

VicEmergency Central - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyCentral

VicEmergency Gippsland - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyGippsland

VicEmergency Hume - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyHume

VicEmergency Grampians - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyGrampians

VicEmergency Barwon South West - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyBarwonSouthWest

VicEmergency Loddon Mallee - https://www.facebook.com/VicEmergencyLoddonMallee/

09/01/2026

Folks with the damage to TV and Radio trasmitters from Mt Alex and the main TV and radio offline, the good people at Phoenix FM have stepped in to keep us all informed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FK9TVHvVX/?mibextid=wwXIfrv

09/01/2026

We wake this morning to cooler temperature and better conditions BUT today is a day of total fire ban and the fire at Harcourt is still not controlled or contained.

Harcourt is still under Emergency Warning and edge of our brigade area is Watch and Act.

Local ABC emergency services broadcasts are available via ABC Listen App (radio and tv offline due to fire on Mt Alex)

We encourage everyone to monitor conditions, keep Vic Emergency app handy and be aware of fire trucks in the area.

09/01/2026

An update on the Harcourt Fire

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AYHE4FepG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/01/2026

Folks, a large amount of smoke is in the area from a number of fires.

All members of the community should use the Vic Emergency App for information.

Currently parts of our Brigade area are impacted by this warning. And a new rapidly increasing fire with a Watch and Act message has started at Axe Creek Rd.

Please use the App, listen to the local radio and keep informed.

Advice - Grass Fire - Stay Informed: Myrtle Creek, Redesdale, Sutton Grange, Elphinstone https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ #!/warning/39295

Part

Victoria's combined source of emergency information and warnings, helping the community to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies across the state.

07/01/2026

Be Alert, Not Alarmed 💨🔥

Seeing smoke? Smelling smoke? Be alert not alarmed.
Due to a couple of large fires burning in Victoria there is starting to be a lot of smoke drift. At times it can appear and smell like the fire is close by but in reality the smoke can be coming from hundreds of kilometres away.
So what should you do if you see or smell smoke in these conditions? We ask that you be alert and take a little time to assess the situation to determine if there is actually a fire close by. If you see flames or a distinct column of smoke call 000 immediately.
Please stay up to date via the vicemergency app or website.
https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

Thanks to our community for your awareness and support.