Rural Fire Service volunteers recently gave up their day for a training exercise hosted by the Tarana Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
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Forty-five volunteers and eight trucks gathered from Tarana, O'Connell, Rydal and Yetholme brigades, supported by a communications crew from Lithgow.
They set out from the Tarana Rural Fire Service shed at 8am for a reconnaissance drive around the Tarana valley, led by senior brigade members Aidan Keough and Graham Fletcher.
The immediate aim of the exercise was to familiarise the crews with key permanent water sources, safe river crossings and some of the back tracks that could prove lifesaving if emergency evacuations were needed to escape advancing fires.
Long term Tarana brigade member, Col Austen, said the exercise was a great success.
"I've lived here all my life and was still shown ways to get around that I hadn't seen before," he said.
Mr Keough, Tarana Brigade captain, said while it was really important to know where all these things were, what was special at the end of the day was knowing that neighbouring brigades were there to help and support them.
"It's good to see communities coming together to share their experience and knowledge," he said.
The conditions in the valley continue to be extremely dry and bushfire danger continues high on most days so far this season.
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