If you've ever driven through regional Australia in summer, chances are you've seen one - a roadside sign with a needle pointing to a colour-coded scale ranging from low to catastrophic. The Fire Danger Meter is one of Australia's most recognisable pieces of public safety infrastructure. But behind that simple roadside sign lies a remarkably rich history of science, tragedy, and ongoing adaptation. A general view showing Greta Bushfire Brigade Station in the background, and a front view of a...

At the Museum of Fire, visitors are often drawn to the fire engines themselves. From hand-drawn hose carts to large modern appliances, the collection spans more than a century of firefighting history. But behind every one of these vehicles is something rarely seen by the public. Before any engine is built, it begins as a drawing. Our latest exhibition, Illustrating Change: Designing Fire Engines for New Challenges , brings these hidden stories to life. Featuring a selection of rarely...

In 1985 when women were formally permitted to become firefighters in the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB, today Fire and Rescue NSW), they faced a lot of pushback in an organisation that had been male dominated since their formation in 1884. Although there are many aspects of this to be discussed at length about the challenges women have faced in the organisation and all the barriers they have broken, today we are looking at one aspect: why were women firefighters given a handbag as part of their...