Once again North West has turned on a packed RFS Open Day. The year 2010 has forced us to change a few things but the move to RFS Fire Control Centre on the other side of town has given us more room and (for the first time in years) a wonderfully warm and bright day. A good move considering North West station is currently being torn up for creek modifications.

Attendees this year included NSW Fire brigades who cut a car up and brought along their marvellous old Dennis fire engine (hope everyone got to see that!), the SES and National Parks & Wildlife showed some really good equipment displays, Country Energy with their information tent & Minties bowl, a popular display from WIRES, Careflight up from Sydney (thanks for trying to get the chopper simulator up too, Chris - no thanks to those who decided a minor technicality was enough to turn the chopper's carrier truck back last night!), Chris Googe back on the microphone for another year - what a veteran! Also the RFS communications bus and wonderful crew who came all the way up from Cowra to be with us (these are the people who keep us in-the-know when on the fireground), and the BBQ team of Rob, Andrew, Ian and slaves - thanks for keeping everyone fed and watered. Information tables with kid's stuff (legend, Marg'!), and an interesting video also filled the gaps to complete the event

The raffles appeared to be a big success too, with a trailer of firewood going, along with many very kindly donated items from local businesses, as well as a jellybean jar which created headaches in trying to work out how many had been inserted!

Also much appreciated  were visits by local State MP Russell Turner and Orange City Deputy MayorJeff Whitton. Thank you both for your interest and involvement.

  For some the highlight of the Open Day was the CHC/NSW Ambulance rescue chopper which arrived to give us some more excitement. Thankyou to David and Nathan and the crew for giving us your time and continued patronage.

For the kids we had plenty of merchandise, balloons, colouring-in pictures, stickers, rulers, some yo-yo's etc. We also ran a few games including the hilarious speed-dressing races along with backpack spray targets. Our junior brigade members enthralled the crowds in running training scenarios including the 5-man fog attack, and a fire over-run exercise - all valuable for Basic Firefighter training but also for general experience for everyone to keep up to date.Our North West station-based CABA (breathing apparatus) crew also provided us with some skill and experience and also showed us how to put out an oil fire.

Well done to Zoe and her team for pulling it all together in a very short but record time - careful or the new Captain will renew your Open Day contracts for next year as well! Thanks to all our visitors for coming along - it's for you people that we're here.

Thanks also to RFS Fire Control Centre at Orange for letting us use the site, and to the likes of Liz who pulled the FCC bits together for us.

Videos can be found here:- 5-man fog attack (36secs), CHC/NSW Ambulance rescue chopper landing (big file, 2mins19sec), and departure (60 secs).

Photos can be found in this gallery ...  If anyone else has photos they'd like to add to this initial gallery please contact Scott via the Contacts screen (Open Day) email address.

Central Western Daily article by Tracey Prisk (27 Sept, 2010).

 The Canobolas Zone RFS website also has a great write-up and good pics - well done Liz !