Bethanga and District Rural Fire Brigade

17/05/2026

On Wednesday 13th May 2026 the brigade held their AGM & bi-annual elections, elected positions will take effect from 1st July 2026.

We would like to thank the current Brigade Management Team & Elected Positions for all their hard work for the last 2 years.

Elected Positions 2026-2028
Captain - Shane Bracegirdle
1st Lieutenant - Daniel Stahl
2nd Lieutenant - Mel Naismith
3rd Lieutenant - Daniel O'Connell
4th Lieutenant - Mark Trafford
5th Lieutenant - Stuart Smythe
Secretary - Molly Peterson
Treasurer - Liz Fagence
Community Safety - Mel Naismith
Health & Safety - Stuart Smythe
Training Coordinator - Daniel O'Connell
Communications Officer - John Northey
Chairperson - Pete Arkins
Asset Maintenance - Daniel Stahl
Group Delegates - Shane Bracegirdle & Daniel Stahl
VFBV Delegate - Shane Bracegirdle

Congratulations to you all for your elected positions.

11/05/2026

Att all members:

AGM and Elections meeting is this Wednesday

13th May at 7pm
Bethanga Hall

If you wish to nominate for any roles, please contact either Molly or Shane, or simply put your hand up on the night.

Even if you do not wish to nominate for a position we would love your support and votes to help shape the future of our Brigade.

24/02/2026

Floods, storms and landslides after bushfires

Bushfires can have long-lasting impacts on the natural environment, increasing the dangers from floods and storms, and the chance of landslides.

Floods:

* Plants help to absorb water and reduce runoff. In burnt areas where there are less plants, more water will flow into riverbeds and may pool in low-lying areas, causing flash flooding.
* Flash floods can happen quickly, without warning. They can be very deep, rise quickly and move fast. Floodwater may also carry dangerous boulders, branches, and trees.
* Flash flooding may damage and wash away roads and bridges, and erode riverbeds, gullies, and banks.
Storms

Trees that have been damaged by heat or fire may be unstable and more likely to fall when it is windy or wet.
Storms may also cause flooding and flash flooding due to increased runoff in locations that would normally not flood.
Landslides

Plants and tree roots help to stop landslides from happening by absorbing water and holding the ground together.
After bushfires, rain and the loss of plants and roots can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.
Landslides can carry debris such as boulders and trees downhill, and cause serious damage to buildings.
They can be extremely dangerous to anyone on or below the affected area.
The risk of a landslide occurring in a burnt area depends on how steep the land is, the number of remaining trees to support the land, the soil composition, and the structure of the rocks below the surface.

How long will the effects last?

The impacts on the natural environment after a bushfire can last anywhere from two to five years, depending on the intensity of the fire, how quickly plants regrow and whether any floods or storms happened afterwards.
In an emergency

For flood and storm assistance, call Victoria State Emergency Service on 132 500.
In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Stay safe

* Avoid walking in burnt areas or along river banks and gullies during and immediately after rainfall.
* Stay safe by never entering floodwater. It can take just 15 cm of water to float a car.
* Do not drive in dangerous conditions, including during storms and heavy rain. Follow any road signs and warnings, including detours.

Access emergency information through the VicEmergency app, website and hotline (1800 226 226), or dial in to emergency broadcasters: ABC Local Radio, designated commercial radio and SKY NEWS TV.

What else can I do?

Think about how bushfires might affect you, your property, and surroundings. Areas most likely to be impacted are located downhill and downstream from burnt areas.
Have an arborist or qualified professional inspect any fire damaged trees nearby.
If you are in low-lying land or near a creek or river, be aware of the risk of flooding and landslides during or after rainfall.
Look out for blocked waterways and redirected water if you are located near a creek or river.
Stay informed of warnings and emergencies at: emergency.vic.gov.au.
For more information on floods, storms and landslides, visit: https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/
Bushfires and your water source

If you live in a bushfire-affected area, your water source could become contaminated from debris, ash, small dead animals or aerial fire retardants.
To learn more, visit: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/bushfires-and-water-tanks

17/02/2026

Vic Emergency App is saying there is a fire at Trewella again..
The Berringa Brigades will be continuing to put out hot spots over the coming days, when a CFA appliance currently turns out it flags as an event. This isn't ideal but out of our hands, this is a Vic Emergency App issue that isn't within our scope.
As always, be vigilant, pay attention and know that if something is on the app one of our Berringa Brigades are tending to it.
Please continue to report fires if you see them so that we can get to them as soon as possible. Appreciate you all

31/01/2026

24/01/2026

Rinse and repeat, you know the drill.
We have another horrible week of hot weather ahead of us.
It's so dry outside that even a bit of hot gossip might ignite your surroundings,

We have a wonderful community as highlighted again over the past few weeks, check on your neighbours, stay cool but remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

11/01/2026

Appreciation Post & Community Update

Thank you to our amazing community 🙏

Over the past few days, we’ve had so many generous people drop off supplies, check in, and offer whatever they could to help keep those on the front line fed, hydrated, and supported. Your kindness shows exactly why this community is so special.

When things get real and we can physically see fire around us, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed or helpless. Wanting to do something is a very human response, you are not alone there.

We also live in an area where fire will always be part of our reality. It’s the price and privilege of living in such a beautiful place. Because of that, we’re working on strengthening our volunteer base for future large‑scale events.

🔥 For this particular fire, it’s unfortunately too late to bring in new members, but many people are still reaching out wanting to help — and that support means the world.

If you’d like to be part of our rotation crew for future events, where we can share the load and ensure we always have enough hands on deck, please comment on this post or text Mel your details.

If you’d like to help in other ways, now or in the future— such as assisting with ration packs or small behind‑the‑scenes tasks — also reach out with your name, texting is probably the best option currently. Things have calmed down a little at the moment, so you may not be needed right away, but please know your willingness is genuinely appreciated. Mel can keep your number on hand and will reach out in the future if extra help is needed.

💛 A special mention must go to Bethanga Hotel and their incredible staff.
The support from individuals and local businesses has been amazing, but the Bethanga Hotel has truly gone above and beyond. They’ve helped facilitate donations, offered respite, provided a cold beer and hot food after turnouts, and created a little hub where the community could gather, debrief, and look after one another.

Their decision to shut early on Friday night was an incredibly responsible call — made at the expense of their own bottom line — to ensure everyone remained alert, vigilant, and ready to enact emergency plans if needed. It may not have been the most popular choice, but it was absolutely the right one.

Please continue to support them as wholeheartedly as they have supported us.

Thank you again to everyone who has shown up with supplies, messages, offers, and heart.
This community is strong because of you.

Mel 0428 191 283
( If you don't get an immediate response, please know you are appreciated. It might take time to get back to everyone and the Brigade needs some sleep).

09/01/2026

Thank you everyone who has reached out to offer assistance with a chainsaw.
You are all incredibly appreciated. If your message hasn't been answered please know we are grateful and will thank everyone after we get on the other side.
If you are looking for ways to help, things such a muesli bars, beef jerky, lollies, energy gels etc are great things that can be dropped at the station. These come in very handy for Strike Teams to have so they have non perishable food sources on hand if they get isolated or stuck for hours on a fire ground.
Cheers

08/01/2026

READ THIS: VERY IMPORTANT
Tomorrow is going to be a bad day. Condition wise its going to be as bad as Black Saturday 6 years ago when lives were lost.
You have been warned. Be Vigilant

We already have a lot of fire in the region,
Crews all around Vicrorua are doing the very best they can, but resources are stretched.

If you have not enacted your fire plan, you are out of time to hesitate.
Enact your fire plan NOW.

Stay informed.
This page is not your source of emergency information. We are too busy to be social media and social media should not be where you go to for information. Yesterday we posted a survival plan, please refer to this as this will tell you what you need to know for awareness, prepareness etc

Do not rely on a fire truck arriving at your door.
We cannot help you if we cannot get to you.
Conditions are going to get worse.

Leave Early. And we mean leave.

Don’t become a rescue mission. Don’t add to the load and risk for our amazing crews.

Get out and leave early while you still can. PLEASE.

Be Safe and Be kind to eachother 🙏

08/01/2026

Fire is being responded to in Sirls Road, it is currently under control but a lot of "blacking out" needing to be done.
Everyone please be vigilant and aware of the conditions outside, stay safe, look after eachother.
We won't be able to always provide updates on what is going on. Following the instructions on the survival guide posted yesterday.