The City of Albany covers an area of 4315 square kilometres. The City of Albany volunteer bush fire brigades provide a fire prevention and suppression service for the municipality with the exception of areas under the care and control of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and gazetted fire districts controlled by DFES’s Fire and Rescue Service. The City of Albany volunteer bush fire brigades and staff, DFES, DEC and private plantation companies cooperate to ensure maximum fire protection across the whole of the City.

Volunteer bush fire brigades carry out a vital service in the City of Albany on behalf of the community and these brigades are always in need of new members. They welcome people who are prepared to join, carry out training and assist in fire prevention, firefighting or incident support. It is a great way to make friends, get to know your community and make an important contribution. To join, contact the City of Albany or your local fire control officer.

The City of Albany has 16 brigades with about 900 volunteer members. Assistance is given to DFES and DEC when required. The firefighting fleet consists of 34 fire appliances: 11 fast attacks, 23 heavy duties and an incident control van, plus the resources of the City of Albany if necessary. Aerial support is available from two water bombers based at Albany Regional Airport, which cover Albany and surrounding local government areas.

For information about the Fire Management Requirements, definitions, harvest, vehicle and movement bans and bush fire brigade contact details, you can download the flyer for 2012-2013 here.

All landowners are required to maintain their property in a condition that will prevent the spread of a wildfire. Should a fire escape from a landowner's property without adequate firebreaks or due to negligence, the landowner may be responsible for the cost of extinguishing the fire and/or the damage caused to other property.

To contact fire services within the City of Albany, call 000 and follow the instructions of the emergency services operator.Any information you can provide to help police to identify anyone responsible for starting a fire would also be greatly appreciated. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

During Restricted Burning Periods open fires are not permitted. This includes campfires but enclosed barbecues are exempt. In the North-East sector restricted burning applies from October 3 to November 14 and from March 16 to April 30. In the South-West sector restricted burning applies from November 9 to December 21 and from March 16 to April 30.

Spring (September to November) and autumn (February to April) burning of a property to reduce fire risks can be undertaken subject to conditions with a permit issued by a fire control officer or a City ranger. The permit period can also be extended, due to seasonal conditions, following the publication of a notice in the local press.

Within the urban area of the City of Albany, career and volunteer firefighters under the Fire and Emergency Services Authority respond to house and bush fires. Dial 000 in any serious emergency, and the Fire & Rescue brigade can be contacted on 9841 2122 for non-emergencies only.

Message from the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer:  

Bushfire brigades play a major role in protecting the community from bushfires and educating landowners to reduce their risk from bushfires.

There’s Something in it for Everybody

Apart from being a volunteer bushfire fighter, there are a number of other key roles which volunteers undertake according to their abilities, interests and what they are comfortable with, including:

• Community safety and education
• Incident support and management
• Training
• Administration.
• Leadership

Training is provided in bushfire fighting, fire behaviour and in the many other roles filled by volunteers. There are opportunities to use existing skills, and develop new ones. 

You will make whole new group of friends, who have a passion for serving their community.

The bushfire volunteers in Albany:       

• Fight wildfires, for example the fire at Little Grove in March 2010·        
• Conduct hazard reduction burns in reserves and on private property·        
• Support other emergency services, for example SES when there are floods or storms·          
• Conduct regular training and familiarization with fire trucks and equipment 

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  (Churchill)  Are you ready to give to your community?

Employers

Many employers encourage their staff to become bushfire brigade volunteers because the training and activities of the brigades helps develop leadership, interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills.

Employers can enhance their public relations through DFES’s Employer Recognition Program.

You don’t have to live in a rural area to join a bushfire brigade. 

There are many urban residents of Albany who are members of one of the 16 brigades in the City.  In particular the 4 brigades which surround the urban area have urban residents as members.  These brigades are Highway, Kalgan, King River and South Coast.

• Bornholm, Joyce, 9845 1253
• Elleker, Neil, 9844 6275
• Highway, Martin, 9845 3040
• Kalgan, Helen, 9844 7442
• King River, Narelle, 9844 3646
• Napier, Dianne, 9844 3084
• Redmond, Robyn, 9854 3242
• South Coast, David, 9844 4999
• Torbay, Sandra, 9845 1077
• Youngs Siding, Craig, 9848 1859
• Other localities, Garry, 9841 9205