The Gungahlin Rural Fire Brigade (the Brigade) of the ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) is based at the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Complex (JESC) located in the central business area of Gungahlin. The JESC is a multi-user facility shared with the Australian Federal Police (ACT Policing), ACT Fire and Rescue (F&R), ACT Ambulance and the ACT State Emergency Service.

Gungahlin is a vibrant and rapidly growing area with several new suburbs and a population of almost 50,000 people. With a capacity of approximately 70 personnel with a broad range of firefighting backgrounds, the Brigade has responsibility for the north and north-eastern approaches to the ACT.

The Brigade actively engages in supporting the local community through education and public events. The Brigade trains each Wednesday night during the fire season and fortnightly during the off-season (winter months).

New Brigade members can expect a structured volunteer ‘career’ progression. In addition to vehicle mounted fire fighting operations, the Brigade has a Remote Area Fire-fighting Team (RAFT), giving additional depth of capability available to the RFS for a broad spectrum of rural fire fighting activities.

The Brigade was initially established as the Gungahlin Volunteer Bushfire and Emergency Services Brigade in March 1997. This Brigade was a combined Bushfire and Emergency Services Brigade that was joined with the Dickson Emergency Service Unit.

The bushfire component of the Brigade initially drew its membership from the Hall and Jerrabomberra Volunteer Bushfire and Emergency Service Brigades.

The Brigade was heavily involved in the 2001 Christmas fires and was the only bushfire units on scene for the first 1.5 hours at the Bruce Ridge fire as it spread from near the Canberra Institute of Technology and encircled the Lyneham Caravan Park.

The Brigade’s busiest day for fire activity was Saturday 13th March 1999 which saw the Brigade respond to and contain 17 fires in the one day. This was also coupled with the busiest weekend for the Brigade that saw us attend over 30 fires over the three days of the Canberra Day Long weekend.

The Brigade was heavily involved in operations in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Tidbinbilla Valley on 17th January 2003 and in the Uriarra Settlement and Weston Creek area on 18th January 2003. The Brigade was able to provide crews for at least one shift for 17 days straight during this campaign event.

Address
Gungahlin Rural Fire Brigade
Gungahlin Joint Emergency Service Centre
Anthony Rolfe Avenue Gungahlin ACT 2912
PO Box 146 Gungahlin ACT 2912
Email – Peter.WarnerRFS@act.gov.au