Volunteer Firefighting & Defence

Why did I choose to volunteer?  

Before I enlisted in the Infantry in 2016, I was unsuccessful on my first attempt based on an apparent lack of “life experience” - I was18-years-old and fresh out of high school and, in hindsight, they weren’t wrong.

When I got home, I was defeated and crushed by the news. Not long after, I was sitting at the Horsley Park pub, and I noticed a bunch of local boys in yellow uniforms, spinning yarns about how “rough” the upcoming fire season was going to be.  That night sparked my initial interest and only days later, I noticed the roller doors open at the depot, and I decided; “stuff it, I want to give this a crack”.  

After finally getting the green light to join the Army, I still had a passion for firefighting, however it didn’t align very well with Initial Employment Training and later, Battalion life. But I had a craving to get back out on the fire ground, so I joined NTFRS when I relocated to Darwin.

What do I enjoy about volunteering? 

The sense of pride in making a difference in people’s lives - I’m still quite a Junior in NTFRS, but I did three years of active service in NSW RFS.  

After the Grafton / Clarence Valley bushfires, my station (Horsley Park RFS) deployed there. We worked long days and nights, we all stunk and it was hard work, but it was all worth it when you see the gratitude and genuine appreciation you get from people whose homes and lives you’ve defended. It's a heartwarming feeling; its real, its raw and it can be emotional. 

After some years serving in 8/9 RAR, I missed volunteering, learning new skills and training for scenarios that challenge you on a regular basis, especially when bushfire season kicks off – that is what pushed me back into volunteering as a firefighter.

How can someone get involved with volunteering while serving in defence?

You really need to have a passion for firefighting, but I’d highly encourage anyone thinking about doing it. The process is rather simple; find your nearest station, say “G’day” and see how the crew respond, then pass the paperwork up your Chain of Command (and hope it doesn't get red penned!).  

How does it fit in with your defence career and family life? 

So far, it's been manageable - no different to people that play any kind of sports outside of defence. You go to weekly training, but you can also go on courses and eventually deployments around Australia to fight a bushfire.  

Why should others consider volunteering? 

If you want to help people and you have the time to put into the training (approx. 1-2hrs every week), the appreciation and pride you feel after helping people is exhilarating.  It’s also just a bunch of fun - there’s nothing quite like being able to (legally) light large amounts of the bush on fire during hazard reductions.

What has been your most memorable firefighting experience? 

One time during a Blue Mountains fire, our crew was taken out by a water bomber - it feels exactly like being tumble dried at the beach after being taken out by a wave!

By Dean Scofield

Volunteer, NTFRS