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The Formation of the Community Fire Unit Following the devastating January 1994 bushfires residents were left feeling frustrated as they wanted to help protect their community but didn’t know how to. They watched, helpless, as their homes were destroyed by fire often only being armed with a garden hose ad buckets of water. This was the catalyst for Terry Munsey of the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB, now Fire and Rescue NSW; FRNSW) to upgrade former hose posts to Community Fire Unit

The Medal for Conspicuous Bravery was instituted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales on 15 September 1932 and is awarded for deeds of conspicuous bravery and gallantry performed on active firefighting service by members of the NSW Fire Brigades (now Fire & Rescue NSW) by saving or endeavouring to save life and property. F. Braund and Co. Fire Armidale, 18 May 1932. The medal was instituted in response to actions taken during a fire at Armidale, NSW. The Meda

This year for 2024 our Vehicle of the Year is the 1984 Centenary Vehicle, an International 1810C pumper more colloquially and favourably known as the ‘White Knight’. As the name suggests this fire engine was originally commissioned and installed in 1984 to celebrate the centenary of the Fire Brigade (known as the New South Wales Fire Brigade, NSWFB, now better known as Fire and Rescue NSW, FRNSW). This pumper stood out for one major reason, that being its colour! The White Kn

A major role of our emergency services is the rescuing of those in need, whether that be in a one-off incident or in a major disaster, the ability of firefighters, with the aid and sometimes guidance of other agencies to undertake rescue procedures is an essential part of what they do. For the theme of our 2023 art competition, we wanted to pay tribute to this role firefighters undertake, emphasising the latter half of our state’s fire service name “Fire AND Rescue NSW”. Stat

By the 1930s the automobile market witnessed a shift with ‘small’ trucks being desired and possessing more power. Dennis, a prominent vehicle manufacturer ran the risk of falling behinds its opposition until it developed a revolutionary chassis that was 2 tonne capacity and offered unusual features for the time such as a setback front axle and hydraulic brakes. Reports of the time touted this as a “funny looking truck” and as a “courageous disregard of recognised practices” b

The approval of The Fire Brigades Act by the Parliament of NSW, established the Sydney Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), giving it the responsibility for providing fire protection to the Greater Sydney area. In time there came the need to recognize Long Service and Good Conduct of its members, in a manner fitting for a uniformed service. The London Metropolitan Fire Brigade (LFB), from which much of the early training, techniques and traditions had been sourced for the Sydney

The earliest use of ladders for firefighting appears to have been for the accessing and removing of thatched roofs of buildings, with suggestions the practice dates back to the Roman Empire. As buildings grew taller, their use for saving life became apparent, and following the invention of fire hoses the opportunities for gaining access to upper stories for firefighting also increased. The early pumping engines were too small to carry ladders on board, so they were carried by

Last year for Ask a Museum Day 2022 we introduced you to the Heritage Team which at the time had some fresh additions to the team, Ben as the new curator (that’s me) and Ella as the Assistant Curator. A year has passed, and we still get questions each and everyday from people asking us about what it is we exactly get up to in our jobs, so we wanted to take the opportunity this year now that we have been in our roles for a little while to answer some of those questions! Interv

On Sunday 10th September 2023 the Museum hosted our annual History Week Keynote Presentation with this years theme being "Voices From the Past". With this topic we chose to highlight the history of women in the fire brigade in NSW. Our CEO Belinda McMartin gave our keynote address with our special guest speaker being Dr. Kristine Klugman OAM. To watch our Keynote Presentation in full visit www.museumoffire.net/history-week-2023 Women have always had a role to play in the fir

We are excited to bring you one of our most recent exhibits New and Noteworthy . To showcase the vast collection we have at the Museum of Fire, this exhibit gives us a chance to showcase new donations or noteworthy objects in our collection. The objects chosen for its first display span over 100 years, from a T. J. Bown & Co coupling from 1889, to the fifth Chief Officer Thomas Nance’s uniform (c. 1929-1934), and a Fire and Rescue NSW drone from 2015-2020. T. J. Bown & Co Cou