Robertson Rural Fire Brigade

04/09/2026

The winds are predicted to increase throughout this morning. If you have had a pile burn this week please check it this morning and again later in the day to ensure it hasn't reignited. Heat can remain deep in a pile for many days after you think it has been extinguished, and be brought back to life with a strong wind, throwing embers into unburnt areas.
A reminder also that no pile burns are permitted without notifications to your neighbours and the RFS (www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify) at least 24hours beforehand, and from the 14th September this year permits will also be required through until the end of March.

🟡Elevated Fire Danger - Saturday 5 September🟡

Due to unseasonably warm and windy conditions tomorrow, the Fire Danger Rating will be raised to High for the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas.

🔥Landholders are urged to:
• Postpone all planned pile burning until conditions ease.
• Regularly check any pile burns conducted in recent weeks.
• Ensure burnt piles are completely extinguished, including checking for heat or smouldering material beneath the surface.
• Continue monitoring old burn sites while strong winds persist.

Remember, fines can apply if you fail to notify the RFS before lighting a fire or if your fire escapes your property.

If you see an unattended or escaped fire, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

🚫 Don’t be the fire risk to your community.

More info: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans

01/09/2026

Bush Fire Danger Period to start on 14 September 2026

The Bush Fire Danger Period of the Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council areas has been brought forward to 14 September due to prevailing dry conditions. This means that a Fire Permit will be required from 14 September to light or maintain fire in the open.

Residents and land holders should also ensure they understand the rules around the use of fire. Along with required fire permits, you must also notify your local fire authority and neighbours of your intent to burn 24 hours in advance.

To apply for a Fire Permit visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify and be sure to give us as much notice as possible as a Fire Permit Officer will need to visit your property prior to issuing a permit.

Know the risks for your area, have a bush fire survival plan and discuss what you and your family will do if threatened by fire.

For more information, visit the RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/BFDP

fans

24/08/2026

This is a little belated, but we wanted to introduce you to Felix and Scott. They recently completed their basic firefighter training and are now qualified to be able to attend incidents. We are really excited to have both Scott and Felix (who has been training with us as a Junior Member after being part of a school Cadets program) as part of the team.

Working on this training is just one of the many things that we get up to through the colder months. To give you an idea of what goes on in the life of your community volunteers, over just the last few weeks we've had members involved in:

*Firefighter Level 1 (Basics)
*Advanced Firefighter - Hydraulics training
*Assisting with the delivery of Advanced Firefigher - Crew Safety and Awareness
*Protect and Preserve Incident Scene training
*The "Trim Felled Trees" Chainsaw training
*An Aviation Support familiarisation workshop at Mittagong Airfield
*Another member became "Structural Firefighter" qualified
*Two of our Crew Leaders attended an officers upskilling workshop about dealing with careless fires.
*Two members provided some assistance to the search and rescue efforts in the Nattai.
*Two of our members who are also RFS Chaplains attended a conference about their role including further valuable training in assisting people in crisis.
*Our brigade attended a presentation from a local sporting legend talking about high performance under pressure organised by our friends over at Avoca Brigade.
*Three members have been involved in a two-day District Incident Management Excercise to help prepare for the coming fire season
*and we installed a new hose drying rack!

Joining the RFS definitely provides plenty of opportunities to try something new and expand your horizons as you look out for your local area.

Over the coming month we will be transitioning into more of a focus on preparation for the fast approaching summer. If you see us around come say hi and ask any questions you may have.

15/08/2026

Car accident on Illawarra Highway west of McGraths Road. Emergency responders on scene. Please avoid the area if possible

20/07/2026

World cup over, back to the endless scrolling in bed?

Phones, laptops, e-bike batteries. They all generate heat while
charging.
Charging on a bed, doona or pillow traps that heat against
fabric. Lithium-ion fires can start fast.
Charge on a hard, flat surface. Keep batteries off bedding.
Be fire safe this winter. fire.nsw.gov.au/befiresafe

30/05/2026

Great outcome for a missing person in the Royal National Park.

Robertson had two crew members assisting with the search today. While our brigades exist primarily here for our local communities it’s always comforting to see volunteers from all over put their hand up to go near or far when people are in need.

28/04/2026

This afternoon we were activated to a vehicle fire on the highway just on the Eastern edge of town. Thankfully the driver was safely out of the vehicle and despite being a hybrid vehicle, the batteries did not cause any additional problems during this incident.

With only a limited crew available we were grateful to be quickly backed up by crews from Albion Park Rural Fire Brigade and FRNSW Moss Vale.

The vehicle was completely extinguished and then our crew remained on scene for an additional hour monitoring the battery before deeming safe and the vehicle being towed away.

Thanks for the patience of all motorists on a narrow section of the highway.

15/04/2026

The weather is being extremely favorable to reduce the fire hazards around the state at the moment. You’ve probably already noticed a few HR’s in progress or smelt some smoke. This will probably continue at least through till Sunday.

Several burns are hoped to be accomplished nearby in the water catchment area north of Tourist Road, and in Kangaroo Valley.

The window to accomplish these burns effectively is very short. Please expect more smoke over the next few days and take appropriate precautions, such as keeping your doors and windows closed and considering whether to leave washing out on the line.

Smoke will settle lower overnight as temperatures cool, there is no need to call 000 unless you can see an unattended out of control fire. Thank you for your understanding as all agencies look to reduce the bush fire hazards in our area.

Hazard Reduction Notification - Yerrinbool

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Firefighters, supported by NSW Rural Fire Service Firefighters will be undertaking a strategic hazard reduction burn from tomorrow (Wednesday, 15 April) in the Bargo River State Conservation Park in the vicinity of Yerrinbool and Hill Top (as depicted on the map below).

Residents in the immediate area are likely to see and smell smoke throughout the duration of the burn which is expected to last 3 days, including from the Hume Motorway. Please only report unattended fires to Triple Zero (000).

More info: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/hazard-reductions

NSW RFS - Yerrinbool Brigade / Hill Top RFS / Wingecarribee Shire Council / Colo Vale Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade / NSW RFS - Alpine/Aylmerton Brigade

10/04/2026

It’s a wild day out there Robertson! We’ve had three call outs already to trees and power lines down.
In an emergency always call 000. If it’s not a life threatening situation here are some important numbers to keep handy:
For trees down across road call Wingecarribee Shire Council on 1300 680 888. This number is active 24/7.
For other emergency situations contact SES on 132500.

08/04/2026

Training information for neighbours:

Over the next couple of hours there will be a training scenario happening in the Southern end of Caalong Street.
You may see some fire appliances and volunteers working around them. All just training, no need for alarm, just for your information!
We’ll try and be all wrapped up by 9pm at the latest.

Thanks!