The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) State Championships were two days of intense action and competition.
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Held at the Pambula Sporting Complex over the weekend, there were 14 events for the 26 teams – 14 senior and 12 junior.
RFS teams from around the state travelled to the region take part in the biennial event, coming from such locations as Armidale and Glen Innes to compete.
“It was a very difficult competition, and a very close competition,” RFS Far South Coast superintendent John Cullen said.
“The events were pretty arduous.”
Region South – of which the Bega Valley is part - was the overall winner for the second year in a row.
The Bega Valley RFS also received the Chairman’s Award, which included $13,000 of training equipment, a smoke machine and gas props for gas-based fire scenarios that will be used to train volunteers in the district.
RFS district officer Garry Cooper said the prize is usually given to an individual who goes “above and beyond the normal amount of work” in volunteering for the championships.
However, this year it went to the whole area due to the massive local support.
While there were no teams from the Bega Valley in the competition, Mr Cooper said 85 local volunteers were directly involved in the running of the event.
Dubbo Composite was crowned the NSW RFS State Champion in the end and took home an Isuzu D-MAX community support vehicle for a two-year use.
The Junior State Champions this year were the Gundagai Cadets.
Mr Cooper said local teams had done well, with Surf Beach placing third in several events as well as a first in the seniors, while Bodalla Cadets placed second in one event.
Around 500 competitors, their supporters and volunteers from the district attended the NSW RFS State Championships in Pambula over the weekend.
Over 200 fire fighters and organisers participated in the opening ceremony on Friday night, featuring a RFS band and marching team.
Teams had the chance to relax at the official state championships dinner on Saturday night, attended by 250 people, and the presentation of the competition was held on Sunday.
Throughout the weekend there were many challenges for the teams to contest.
“They are pretty realistic events that are not only arduous, but also a good training exercise which is close to what we do,” Far South Coast superintendent John Cullen said.
He said one of the events that generated a lot of interest from the crowd was the chainsaw event, which involved cross-cutting and tree falling scenarios.
Other events included an air-based inferno, vehicle collision and fire, two navigation-based events, equipment failure, a structure event involving simulated asbestos sheeting, and a junior event involving transferring water to extinguish a small fire.
The first cooking competition - called Whose Kitchen Rules? - was held this year, where RFS volunteer caterers showcased their skills and proficiency in cooking food for the many fire fighters.
Two teams competed, dishing up around 480 meals for breakfast and lunch over the weekend, and the composite team from the Hawkesbury called Team Bravo won.
An RFS helicopter was at the championships to provide aerial support for one event, and also gave water bucketing and winching demonstrations.
“There was an enormous amount of organisation and preparing to put together the championships,” Mr Cullen said.
“We have had tremendous support from volunteers, the community, the council and our sponsors.
“It all helped put together a wonderful weekend of competition.”
Mr Cooper also thanked all the volunteers who had given their time to support the championships.
“It was an absolute, outstanding success,” he said.
The 2016 NSW RFS State Championships will be held at Narrabri.