Six new Fire + Rescue NSW recruits are now helping to keep the district safe after completing a four day basic training course in Deniliquin last week.
One of the last tasks for the group — which includes Deniliquin recruit Tristan Barbot and others from Leeton, Culcairn, Barham, Narrandera and Tumbarumba — was to come face-to-face with a ferocious fire for the first time.
Using the fire training facility at Deniliquin Airport, the group tackled a simulated compartment fire on Sunday.
Red hot flames inside the specially built container created acrid smoke which billowed out from every escape route.
The recruits would have been confronted with temperatures of between 700°C and 800°C.
Deniliquin FRNSW training facility manager Andrew Wood said the idea is for the recruits to learn about the behaviour of a fire, and put their training in to practice.
‘‘The recruits were in there for about 40 minutes learning about the dynamics of a fire, in a low visibility situation.
‘‘They were given a chance to use tools like thermal imaging cameras, and taking turns at using the fire hose to douse the flames.
‘‘For all of them, it was their first experience of being exposed to heat like that.’’
Before the simulation, the recruits were given instruction in basic hazmat, breathing apparatus, bush fire awareness and structural firefighting.
The four day course, which started Thursday, also included other general induction tasks.
Each of the firefighters has joined FRNSW in the last 12 months.
‘‘Now they have completed the course, they will be allowed on the road,’’ Mr Woods said.
‘‘As recruits they will remain under the guidance of firefighters for now.’’