New recruits in Molesworth Fire Brigade have already put their training to use, jumping on trucks to assist with the January fires just months after their training was finalised.
Six fresh new faces were part of the brigade's response this fire season where they had the opportunity to put their training into action and defend not only their own homes but also those of the broader community.
The group wrapped up their training at the end of November 2025 and brigade Captain Nicholas Fisher said it was great to see them already making a difference as firefighters.
"It is wonderful to have some new young blood in the mix alongside our existing group," Nicholas said.
"Through jumping on the trucks for the Longwood fire they essentially got ten years' worth of experience in just a few weeks."
Kelly Timms was one of the members who joined the brigade and said it was a whirlwind to finish the training and be thrust into one of the most major fire seasons in the state's recent history.
"My partner has been involved with the brigade for over 30 years and I always thought I didn't have the time. But I wanted to do more for the community so I decided CFA was a way I could do that while also doing something with my partner," Kelly said.
"The only time I had seen a fire truck was when I would pick him up from the station or when they would come down to the kinder.
"We had training nights down at the station where we went through a lot of theory and they really prepared us for our General Firefighter training."
Kelly said her confidence grew ten-fold after training and she was able to lean on that to protect her own property.
"I was really nervous, I hadn't even been to a little grass fire down the road, but our trainers John Morris and Shannon Roach had always said to me 'trust in your training'," Kelly said.
"And it was because of that training my partner and I were not only able to save our home and our business, but help other people in the community.
"It wasn't all just about firefighting though. One day we met some friends at the roadblocks who delivered us some sandwiches, and we just drove them around to all the smaller brigades in the area who didn't have access to a big town with supermarkets or lots of catering services."
Kelly said she was also able to polish and refine her skills in the weeks after the fire.
"There was a lot of mopping up to do so I spent so much time on the truck - I really knew it inside out," Kelly said.
"All those hours on the truck cemented my knowledge and will help if something like this ever happens again or even when I am attending a small grass fire up the road. It was such valuable experience."
For those who are unsure if they should sign up or think they might not have the time, Kelly said they should at least visit a station, talk to the volunteers, and see what it is all about.
"There are so many things you can do that don't involve fighting the fire," Kelly said.
"Brigades always need help sweeping the floors or washing the trucks.
"You're also a volunteer so you can work it around your life. More people in a brigade means the more the workload can be shared which then means the more flexible it can be."
Kelly also said the experience of becoming a volunteer opened her eyes to what people can do to help the CFA even if they aren't members.
"This fire season in particular has stressed the importance of being properly prepared," Kelly said.
"Ensure you do things like trim back trees, make sure a fire truck could fit in your driveway, have the proper tank fittings for your hoses - all these things help us out without you ever signing up."
If you're interested in joining CFA or learning more about volunteering, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer.
