Emma Pritchard

More than 700 people across the Clarence Valley visited their local fire station on May 13 during the 2023 Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Open Day.

Children of all ages, along with their parents and guardians, excitedly embraced the opportunity to get up close to fire trucks, meet members of local crews, and learn about the importance of fire safety while watching live demonstrations.

Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station Captain Garry Reardon said the event was very successful, adding 350 visitors were welcomed through the station doors during the day.

South Grafton Fire Station received 150 visitors, while 100 and 150 people respectively visited fire stations in Maclean and Yamba.

Captain Reardon said the Open Day is an important community event, and said one of the key messages this year was to make members of the public aware of safe use of Lithium-Ion batteries following a significant number of fires occurring in the Clarence Valley, and across the state, directly related to use of these batteries and chargers.

Other important messages crew members spoke about included warning people of the dangers of leaving devices on charge for extended periods of time, not charging phones on pillows or in bed, and only using chargers which comply with relevant standards and are compatible with your battery or device.

Captain Reardon said crew members also spoke to visitors about the offer of home fire safety visits during the Open Day.