So any opportunity for the three emergency services to get together socially, such as taking part in the Guns and Hoses surfing competition, usually draws a pretty positive response.

About 60 people turned out to the light-hearted and fun competition, held at One Mile Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday, which pits the emergency services against each other in the surf.

“We deal with some pretty bad stuff at work,” Guns and Hoses organiser Andrew Grimwood said.

“So when we get here, we let our hair down and enjoy each other’s company.”

Mr Grimwood, a station officer at Hamlyn Terrace Fire Station on the Central Coast, has taken part in the Guns and Hoses surfing competition for the past 20 years.

The competition was started by firefighters in 1995. It has been held every year bar one since its inception.

“It’s really about firies, police and ambulance to get together and catch up,” Mr Grimwood said.

“It’s great to build camaraderie between the three services.

“We treat it as a social get together.

“The whole mood of the event is fun.”

Firefighters hailing from across NSW, Queensland and Victoria made up the majority of this year’s contingent of surfers, of which there were about 60.

While numbers were up this event (by 10), only four women were able to compete this year, down from 12 the year before.

The competition is held at One Mile Beach every year.

Division finalists are decided on day one and the finals are held on day two.

“We run the comp according to ASP rules,” Mr Grimwood said.

“We have an ASP-accredited judge, too, but we’re not surfing for world titles or sheep stations.

“There’s friendly rivalry, but mostly it’s just about having a surf and having fun.”

The commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW donates the event trophies each year.

Mr Grimwood said the Port Stephens weather had been “fantastic” this year, compared to wet and miserable in previous years.

“We had a great day of surfing on Tuesday,” he said.

“Today [Wednesday] is a bit flat, but the weather has been classic Port Stephens – cracking.”

The contingent of surfers raise $3000 across the two days, which will be donated to charity.