Portland Fire Brigade, Victoria, Australia.

19/08/2026

AFAC has released the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for spring 2026 with fire authorities predicting a heightened risk of fire across northern and southeastern NSW, south-east Queensland, northeastern Tasmania, parts of WA, SA and Victoria, and large parts of the NT.

Read here: https://www.afac.com.au/public-resources/seasonal-bushfire-outlook-spring-2026

AFAC CEO Rob Webb said: “This outlook highlights a heightened risk of fire across several parts of the country, driven by a combination of dry conditions in the east and increased fuel loads through parts of central and northern Australia."

"The variety of risk factors across different regions reinforces the need for communities to understand their local conditions and prepare early."

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook is an expert analysis of bushfire fuels, past rainfall, temperature, and climate outlooks undertaken by the Bureau of Meteorology and fire agencies across Australia.

02/08/2026

Between Calls Podcast | Ian Hamley – Leadership, Training & International Deployments

In this episode of Between Calls, Kylie sits down with Ian Hamley, Captain of Portland Fire Brigade and one of the CFA's most experienced and respected leaders.

Ian has dedicated decades to the CFA, serving in almost every volunteer leadership position before becoming Captain of Portland Fire Brigade in 2016. Alongside his brigade leadership role, he is the Group Training Officer, where his passion for developing capability and maintaining high training standards is evident in everything he does.

Professionally, Ian works for the CFA as the Forestry Brigades Coordinator, supporting forestry brigades across Victoria and helping strengthen one of the state's most specialised firefighting resources.

We discuss Ian's journey through the CFA, his approach to leadership, the importance of training, and his experiences serving as an Operations Officer. We also explore his international deployments to Canada, where he worked alongside fire agencies in challenging and dynamic environments.

This is an engaging conversation packed with insights into volunteer leadership, operational decision-making, firefighter development, and the realities of managing incidents at both local and international levels.

Plus, we've secured exclusive bonus content from Ian, where he shares even more detail about his deployment experiences in Canada.

🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Between Calls.



Ian Hamley Podcast Links
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HY9-E-V-MA8
Bonas Content on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bY0C9OnaZqU

🎙️ Between Calls Podcast | Ian Hamley – Leadership, Training & Inte...

01/08/2026

We are deeply saddened by the news of three firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in Greece.

On behalf of CFA, we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, colleagues and the wider firefighting community.

These tragic events serve as a powerful reminder of the courage and dedication firefighters demonstrate every day to protect their communities.

31/07/2026

The members of Portland Fire Brigade would like to congratulate our Captain, Ian Hamley, who departs Australia on 5 August as part of the Australian firefighting contingent deploying to British Columbia, Canada, to assist with the 2026 Canadian wildfire season.

Ian has been selected to serve as a Divisional Supervisor, following his deployment to Manitoba in 2025, where he served as an Operations Chief. His selection recognises his 25 years of firefighting experience, leadership, and extensive incident management expertise.

Ian was re-elected as Captain of Portland Fire Brigade in June and is also an Emergency Management Victoria accredited Level 3 Operations Officer. Throughout his CFA career, he has been recognised with the CFA 25 Year Service Medal, National Medal and 1st Clasp, National Emergency Medal for the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, National Emergency Medal for the 2019–2020 Black Summer Bushfires, and the CFA Outstanding Service Medal.

International deployments provide an opportunity for Australian and Canadian fire agencies to support one another during major wildfire seasons while sharing valuable knowledge and experience that strengthens emergency response in both countries.

Ian and the Australian contingent will depart on 5 August and are scheduled to return to Australia on 10 September.

On behalf of all members of Portland Fire Brigade, we wish Ian a safe deployment and look forward to welcoming him home.

Stay safe, Ian, and thank you for representing our brigade, our community and the CFA.

02/07/2026

Table Set for One - In Memory of firefighter Garry Mallen

02/07/2026

22/06/2026

The brigade held their annual dinner & awards night on Saturday, congratulations to all award recipients, click on video to view award recipients.

04/06/2026

Portland Fire Brigade Leadership Team Announced

Our brigade elections have now been completed. We would like to sincerely thank our outgoing officers and committee members for their dedication, service, and commitment to the brigade. We also congratulate our newly elected and appointed officers who will lead the brigade over the next two years.

Brigade Executive and Coordinators (2026–2028)

Captain: Ian Hamley
1st Lieutenant: Ryan Delony
2nd Lieutenant: Darren Cox
3rd Lieutenant: Dylan Thomas
Brigade Chair: Aaron Palmer
Secretary: Frank Zeigler
Treasurer: Geoff Place
Training Coordinator: Frank Zeigler
Health & Safety Coordinator: Wayne Leake
Community Engagement Coordinator: Dylan Thomas
FEM Coordinator: Wayne Leake
Group Delegates: Ryan Delony & Darren Cox
VFBV Delegates: Stuart Richardson & Geoff Place

We look forward to the next two years as we continue working together to support our members, serve our community, and strengthen the Portland Fire Brigade. Congratulations to all those elected and appointed to these important roles.

26/03/2026

Come down and see the portland fire bridge between 6-8pm tonight at bunnings portland

ATTN: we’re hosting a FREE Easter Family Event on Thursday the 26th of March 🐰✨

Bring the whole family to your local Bunnings for a fun evening full of easter themed activities, crafts, and more 🎉

Book your spot via our website ⬇️
www.bunnings.com.au/services/in-store/diy-workshops

*Check your local store for more details