The Pindimar Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service held it’s “Get Ready Weekend” last Saturday, at the Myall Quays Shopping centre in Tea Gardens.

Red balloons, great big red fire trucks and a sausage sizzle marked the event which was held to showcase the Brigade’s work and presence in the community.

“We’re all volunteers,” Captain Helmut Panhuber told the News Of The Area.

“Today we’re promoting the importance of having a plan and the simple steps people can take to prepare their home and family.”

Locals were given information packs and first hand knowledge of what it takes to keep themselves and their properties safe.

When it comes to predicting what this bushfire season will be like, Helmut Panhuber said, “It’s anybody’s guess.  We’ve had a wet winter so there’s a lot of growth, and after the April storm there’s still a lot of debris on the ground.”

There are also a number of factors involved when it comes to hazard reduction Helmut said, “It depends on the weather, on whether crews are available and ensuring all official guidelines are met.”

Money raised from Saturday’s sausage sizzle will help fund a handheld PMR radio, vital for crews to keep communication lines open in the field.

Each radio costs around $2,500.

The Pindimar Tea Gardens Brigade is always looking for more volunteers, whether in the field or with communications.

For more information you can go to Pindimar/Tea Gardens RFS Facebook site or rfs.nsw.gov.au

By Margie TIERNEY