Community Fire Units
"Fire Brigades Working with the Community" - an ACT Fire Brigade Preparedness initiative
Introduction to Community Fire Units
The Community Fire Unit (CFU) Program is one of the many ACT Fire Brigade (ACTFB) initiatives that enhance community safety. It is based on the highly successful program operated by the NSW Fire Brigades since 1994.
The success of the NSW CFUs in the December 1997 Menai bushfires and in the Christmas 2001 bushfires highlighted the invaluable role these volunteer suburban teams can take in property protection.
A Community Fire Unit is a volunteer team of local residents who live close to bush land areas across the ACT. These local men and women are trained and equipped by the ACTFB to safeguard their homes during a bushfire until the fire services arrive.
 For example, using basic firefighting equipment (pumps, hoses and protective clothing), residents hose down the areas surrounding their property to prevent a bushfire from gaining hold.
A typical team on average consists of 8 to 30 members and has a designated area encompassing 50 to 80 homes.
The focus is on bushfire education, prevention and preparation, covering areas such as:
· bush care and bushfire behaviour
· safe housekeeping and gardening practices
· planning and preparation for bushfires
· operating firefighting equipment
· mop up operations
CFU members are a part of the ACT Fire Brigade and take direction from Brigade Officers but they are not firefighters.
The ACT program commenced in late 2003. Following a successful trial of 8 units, the program has now expanded to 38 CFUs in high risk bushfire areas. There are around 1000 volunteer members. Units are located in: Aranda, Bruce, Campbell, Cook, Chapman, Curtin, Duffy, Dunlop, Fadden, Farrer, Hall, Hawker, Kambah, O'Connor, Torrens and Uriarra. The ACTFB plans to expand the program to 50 units over the next few years.
The ACT Fire Brigade Community Fire Unit program can be contacted on 6207 8454 or by email actfb.cfu@act.gov.au
(the email address in the pamphlet is no longer valid).
You can also download an information pamphlet (PDF 101KB).
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