FREELING Country Fire Service (CFS) has seen its fair share of change over the past 76 years – from farmers fighting fires with an old blitz truck to the modern appliances of
today.

The station will celebrate 76 years since its official inception this month following more than seven decades of community firefighting.

The Freeling CFS currently has about 30 active members and is the second oldest station in the Light Group, to Kapunda.

From humble beginnings in an old shed to its home on Stephenson Street, the brigade has advanced over the years.

“To celebrate our 75th anniversary (delayed by COVID) we will be having a dinner for all active and life members at The Barns in Freeling on May 15,” logistics officer Emily Kidd told The Bunyip.

“We have the group officers and our chief officer attending to celebrate this amazing milestone.

“We are quite a relaxed, family-orientated brigade that gives back to members.”

According to the unit’s history, around 1942 a local group made up of farmers and business owners decided the town needed a fire brigade.

In February 1945, it established itself by becoming part of what was then known as the Emergency Fire Service (EFS).

The first truck was an old blitz open cab with no engine cove that towed a tank, and firefighters handed out knap sacks or old wheat sacks to anyone who turned up to fight the fire.

Using an old shed as its base, the brigade upgraded by building another single shed and one still stands today opposite the Gungellan Hotel.

Around 1970, a new bedford fire truck came on scene and then later a land cruiser was built up by the community to be a firefighting vehicle.

In 1976, the EFS became the Country Fire Service.

Group officer Neville Kernich said, joining the CFS, “you get a lot more than you give in.”

“Everything that you are given: training, equipment, PPE, is all given to you free of charge. The only thing you have to provide is your time,” he said.

“Some of the courses we do would cost thousands.”

Mrs Kidd said Freeling CFS was “always looking” for new members.

“Especially day crew – people who are able to attend callouts during the day on week days as those times are the hardest to fill,” she said.

“Most things happen during the day – road crashes occur during more peak hours and anything grassfire-related will usually happen in the hottest part of the day.

“To move a truck you need at least three people. The truck fits six.

“Some of our members have workplaces that do allow them to leave when the pager goes off.

“We have a Facebook messenger group to communicate who is attending and when more help is needed.”

On October 13, 1989, Freeling got a new station on Stephenson Street, where it exists today.

Along with the new station came two new diesel hino fire trucks, however, one truck was given to sister station Shea Oak Log to prevent its closure.

As time progressed, the Freeling brigade ended up with a land cruiser ute QRV (quick response vehicle) which holds around 400 litres of water and basic equipment.

In October 2015, the unit swapped the new hino for a dual cab Isuzu truck.

Mr Kernich said Ash Wednesday and Pinery bushfires stood out as memorable blazes fought by the Freeling brigade.

“Ash Wednesday fires were fought with petrol trucks with petrol pumps and they were vapour locking on the way to the fire, with gear that wasn’t as fire retardant as what we have now,” he said.

“The pumps weren’t good and the trucks slow moving.”

“Pinery was massive and our truck was actually in Clare at the time when Pinery first took off,” Mrs Kidd added.

“We need a second truck, which we are meant to be getting next build.

“Pinery was hard for the community, being the largest fire anyone can remember to come close to our town.

“Freeling has grown over the past 10 years, with people from the city wanting a country lifestyle, and many of them never seeing a crop fire before, so seeing smoke made them want to leave.

“But Freeling is well-designed, with most of the town declared as safe zones and the best thing to do is to move to these areas and stay informed via am radio and official channels and stay safe.”

Mrs Kidd said the local brigade offered resources to other brigades near and far.

“We go everywhere,” she said.

“Last year about six of us went to Kangaroo Island with the Region 2 strike teams. Some members also did three strike teams to Cudlee Creek, other members did two, and one of our brigade members went to New South Wales last year on deployment and helped out.

“We train on Thursday nights from 7.30pm to about 9.30pm and we have cadets every second week from 6.30pm to 7.30pm – ageing between 14 years and 17 years.

“Volunteer firefighting is a lifestyle, but it is also a family.

“It is not just about giving back to the community, it’s amazing how you grow.”

Anyone wanting to join the Freeling CFS is encouraged to get in contact with captain Rick Noakes on 8525 2350 or via the brigade’s Facebook page.