General News
7 November, 2025
Firies need your help
THE Kurrimine Beach fire and rescue station opened its doors to the community recently, giving locals a behind-the-scenes look at its operations, as well as encouraging recruitment for part-time and on-call firefighters.
The event aimed to showcase the vital work of firefighters while encouraging recruitment for part-time and on-call (auxiliary) firefighter positions across the Far Northern region.
Families enjoyed a range of interactive activities, with children getting hands-on learning experiences through fire safety demonstrations and educational activity packs. Firefighters also carried out a road crash rescue demonstration, showing the tools and techniques used in real-life emergency situations.
Kurrimine Beach is one of 25 stations across the Far Northern region, an area covering more than 269,000 square kilometres from Cardwell to the Torres Strait, including the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Acting inspector and station captain Steve Wilson, who has served for nearly 30 years, encouraged locals to consider joining the service.
“It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding role,” Mr Wilson said. “We are looking for dedicated community members who want to make a real difference.”
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is currently seeking to fill positions at stations in Kurrimine Beach, Innisfail, Mission Beach, El Arish, Tully and Cardwell.
Unlike volunteer roles, auxiliary firefighters are paid an hourly rate for emergency callouts and weekly training sessions. While primarily serving their local communities, they can also be deployed across Queensland or interstate to assist during major disasters such as bushfires, cyclones and floods.
Applicants must be 18 years or older, an Australian/New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and willing to obtain a manual medium rigid driver licence within 12 months of joining. Candidates must also pass a medical assessment and demonstrate strong physical, mental and emotional resilience.
Auxiliary firefighters respond to a wide range of incidents including structure, landscape and vehicle fires, road accident rescues, swift water and technical rescue, storm damage, hazardous material incidents, building inspections and even search and rescue operations.
The QFES mission is to protect people, property and the environment through emergency response, community education, preparedness, and recovery support – keeping Queenslanders safe every day.
For more information on becoming a part-time firefighter, visit www.bit.ly/4oEPVaC
Read More: Kurrimine Beach