Call 000, what happens?
You call 000 to report an emergency. What happens next?
24/7, 365 Days, Fire Communications (FireCom) send an immediate call via our paging system and text message. All crews on turnout duty receive a very loud, visible alert. Our systems can bypass any silent settings on a phone, so we never miss a call.
Availability (within seconds) - every volunteer Firefighter asks the same quick questions. Can I drop what I’m doing right now? Can I leave work? Are the kids sorted? How far am I from the station? That decision can see us responding for 1 hour locally, 12 hours, or 24 hours on the other side of the region, or 5 days away in another state.
Closeburn always has a team of qualified Firefighters, 24/7.
Respond (within seconds) - Through our alert system, firefighters mark themselves as responding, unavailable, or delayed. This lets the leadership team see who is on the way and how many crews we have.
Safety – We’re out the door in seconds. Even though it’s an emergency, we follow the road rules to get to the station; the last thing we need is another incident along the way.
Station – Crews generally arrive at Closeburn within 3 – 5 minutes of being alerted. We change into our personal protective equipment, have a quick briefing and safety check, and then crews are allocated to a task.
Wheels rolling – Crews are generally out of the station within 7 – 10 minutes after being alerted. En route, safety, preparation and alertness are our focus. Our qualified drivers follow low-risk driving practices, using all required warnings (we even consider the noise we make when passing animals to ensure we don’t scare them).
Arrival – If the incident is within Closeburn, we’re generally on site within 10 – 15 minutes. All firefighters (Rural and Fire & Rescue) follow a set process that starts with: Who and what needs rescuing; our priority is to save lives.
Seconds matter. Minutes matter. If unsure, make the call.
When you see smoke or fire, call 000 straight away. Even if you’re unsure, make the call. Those early seconds give firefighters the time they need to move.
Once FireCom receives the call, alerts go out within moments. We stop what we’re doing and respond and head for the station. That decision happens fast, and every minute you save helps them get moving.
When you see smoke or fire, call 000 straight away. Even if you’re unsure, make the call. Those early seconds give firefighters the time they need to move.
Once FireCom receives the call, alerts go out within moments. We stop what we’re doing and respond and head for the station. That decision happens fast, and every minute you save helps them get moving.
Crews reach the station in a few minutes and roll out soon after. If the fire is local, they’re usually on scene within 10–15 minutes. That response relies on you calling early.
You don’t need to confirm the size, cause or risk. You don’t need certainty. If you see smoke and you think something feels wrong, call. Your quick action gives firefighters the chance to reach you sooner and keep people safe.
Seconds matter. Minutes matter. If unsure, make the call.
