Berrigan, NSW, pioneered volunteer bush firefighting in 1900
Berrigan formally organized Australia's first recorded volunteer bush fire brigade in 1900, establishing the model that became the NSW Rural Fire Service.
A bell beneath the archway of Berrigan's Royal Hotel summoned the town's firefighters. When it rang, volunteers sprinted to the rallying spot and climbed onto horse-drawn drags that carried up to 16 men toward the smoke.
A water cart and a third wagon carrying drinking water and refreshments followed. At the fire front, crews smothered flames with long-handled beaters.
The Berrigan Bush Fire Brigade was formally established in November 1900 at the Royal Hotel. About 30 men enrolled and officers were elected at that first meeting.
The brigade refined its tactics over decades, rotating teams through beating, mopping up and rest. By 1997, Berrigan became part of the newly established NSW Rural Fire Service, which brought the state's volunteer brigades into a unified system.
- November 1900
- Formation date
- About 30 men
- Initial enrollment
- Up to 16
- Men per drag
Why it mattersBerrigan's volunteer model spread across NSW and became the foundation for the modern Rural Fire Service that protects the state today.
AustraliaThe volunteer firefighting system Berrigan pioneered remains core to how Australia responds to bush fires across NSW and regional Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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