Aaron Lindsay’s initiation into active duty with the NSW Rural Fire Service has been, quite literally, through a baptism of fire.
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The 16-year-old from Medowie was cleared for the field, meaning he can respond to incidents, two days before Christmas.
Now, just three weeks later, he has been one of the 200 firefighters battling the bushfires in Port Stephens.
“You can’t really imagine what it will be like when you’re learning what to do,” Aaron said.
“You really have to experience it for yourself, find your feet on the ground.
“It’s really amazing that I can be out there. It has been challenging and stressful but I’m really enjoying it.”
Following in the footsteps of his firefighter parents, Grahame and Leanne, plus older sister Brooke, Aaron joined the Bowthorne/Hinton Rural Fire Brigade as a junior member when he was 13.
Aaron and Brooke then transferred to Medowie Rural Fire Brigade. His parents are still members of Bowthorne/Hinton.
“Ever since I was little I wanted to be a firefighter,” Aaron said. “I remember as a kid watching shows like Fireman Sam. That is what spurred me on to pursue my interest in becoming a firefighter.”
Junior RFS members, those aged under 16, train to respond to incidents but are restricted to the station.
They cannot attend real life incidents until they turn 16 and pass an assessment that shows they are competent to be out in the field.
During the Lone Pine bush fire in Balickera, near East Seaham, last year Aaron took a week off school to help out around the station.
For Aaron, who will enter year 11 at Tomaree High School this year, he faced an even longer wait to be able to go out in the field after turning 16 as assessments do not pick up again until mid-2018.
Knowing how eager Aaron was to join Medowie’s fire crews on the ground, the brigade did all they could to organise an assessor to come out to the station before Christmas.
“Aaron had been so keen to turn-out after his birthday, we couldn’t make him wait over the Christmas break as well,” Senior Deputy Captain Peter Smith said.
“With the help of staff at the RFS district office we were able to arrange for an assessor to come out the weekend before Christmas and run Aaron through his assessment.”
It is something Aaron said he was “very thankful” of.
After passing his assessment, Aaron, who is the youngest member of Medowie Rural Fire Brigade, has been able to join crews out on calls.
However, the largest incident has been the bush fires in Tomago, Williamtown, Raymond Terrace and Campvale during the past week.
In addition to fighting fires, the young firefighter has been part of back burning and mopping up efforts.
Being part of the RFS is something Aaron sees himself doing for a long time.
“I would like to work my way up in the ranks, perhaps become a deputy captain one day,” he said. “I would like to do this for the rest of my life, or for as a long as I am able to. I love it.”
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
