MASSIVE bushfires that have been burning across NSW for months have resulted in a membership spike for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in the Chifley/Lithgow zone.
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So far this bushfire danger period more than 2400 homes have been destroyed by fire, with firefighters and members of the public killed while defending their properties.
On Tuesday, there were more than 70 fires still burning across NSW.
Raglan RFS brigade is among those to have received a recent boom in membership enquiries, Captain Gareth Sutton said.
"Because of the amount of enquiries we've had it's forced us to have an information night," he said.
"We were letting people know what we do, how to join, what the service does and the different roles and responsibilities.
"Quite a few of them [at the information session] have been saying 'we've wanted to do something and this has prompted me to join'."
Captain Sutton said while some were keen to become frontline firefighters, others wanted to take on support roles such as at the air base or during community education events.
"Community education is a focus of ours these days because a lot of good comes out of helping people prepare for fires," he said.
Chifley/Lithgow Inspector Mick Holland said while interest in joining RFS was a positive thing for the service, training was vital and did take some time.
"A lot of people think they can walk into a fire station and sign a bit of paper and get started," he said.
Anyone wishing to become a firefighter must complete a course and undertake training with the brigade before before deployed to any incidents.
Community education is a focus of ours these days because a lot of good comes out of helping people prepare for fires.
- NSW Rural Fire Service Raglan Captain Gareth Sutton
"We need members who are there for the busy times and also the quite times and members who can do other tasks like communication," Insp Holland said.
Anyone interested should call Chifley/Lithgow Fire Control Centre on 1300 258 737 or contact your location station.
"You should a attend the brigade a few times before you decide to join. See what the people are like and see what the brigade's like," Insp Holland said.
The Chifley/Lithgow RFS district covers the Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon local government areas.
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