Cockatoo Rural Fire Brigade(CFA)

06/09/2026

Cockatoo CFA serves everyone in our community, regardless of their background, culture, ethnicity or circumstances.

Unfortunately, we have recently had to monitor and remove inappropriate comments from some of our social media posts, including racist comments. That behaviour is not acceptable on our page and does not reflect the values of our Brigade.

It will not, nor will it ever, be tolerated.

Our social media channels are managed by a small few of our Brigade volunteers. Every minute spent reviewing, moderating and removing offensive comments is volunteer time unnecessarily taken away from training, community safety, brigade administration and serving our community.

It also takes volunteers away from their families to deal with conduct that should not require moderation in the first place, including today, on Father's Day.

We welcome respectful discussion and engagement with our posts. Racist, discriminatory, abusive or otherwise inappropriate comments will be removed, and users may be blocked where appropriate and at our discretion.

Social media is an important tool for our Brigade to engage with the community, provide local updates, and share emergency information.

We don't want to have to reserve it only for emergencies.

We are here to serve and protect our whole community and those who visit or travel through our beautiful township.

Please help us keep our posts respectful and useful for everyone.

Cockatoo Rural Fire Brigade

05/09/2026

Happy Father’s Day to the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, mentors and father figures who simply show up, lead by example and look after their people.

Sometimes that is what the job comes down to, at home or on the fireground. 🔥

05/09/2026

At 0245h this morning, we were called out to a fuel tanker that had slipped off the side of the road and down an embankment, leaving it at risk of rolling. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Two of our appliances responded, with the incident running for approximately 9.5 hours before we were able to return home. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who continue to turn out when the community needs them, regardless of the hour.

We also want to thank our community for your patience and understanding during the extended road closure, and for understanding our late withdrawal from today’s market. The safety of everyone at the scene, and the safe stabilisation and recovery of the vehicle, had to come first.

This was the second significant motor vehicle accident we have responded to this week alone. We urge everyone to take care on our roads, for your own safety, the safety of other road users, and the emergency service personnel who may ultimately be called to assist.

We remain ready to respond and protect our community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thank you for continuing to support Cockatoo CFA.

04/09/2026

4.15AM / 0415h

PSA - Road closed in the Windies on Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, between Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd (at the roundabout towards Emerald) and Lower/Upper Grieve Rds due to an incident.

The road is expected to remain closed for some time due to heavy vehicle recovery operations.

Police and CFA remain on scene.

02/09/2026

Just a typical Wednesday night for the Brigade with party lights, the soundtrack of diesel engines humming in the background, and the occasional spray of natural and pure* Cockatoo water.

Pre-summer preparations are starting to ramp up. Time to start thinking about your summer prep too.

If you're heading to the Cockatoo Country Market this Saturday, come by, have a chat and see one of our workhorses up close (and a fire truck).

By popular demand our kids fire house will be there for the youngsters to throw some firefighter kit on and put the wet stuff on the red stuff.

We look forward to having a chat!

*While we can confirm the water is natural, we have no idea how pure it is...

29/08/2026

Last night we held our annual presentation night to recognise all of our members and their partners for their time and dedication over the last 12 Months.

The following Awards were presented to members
Firefighter of the Year - Comms Officer Ben Bonollo
Captains Award - Secretary Rob Turner
10 Year Service Medal - FF Connor Moore
20 Year Service Medal - Ex Captain Chris White
20 Year Service Medal - 1st Lt Michael Wake
30 Year Service Medal - Captain Marcus Harris

FF Jon Hillis was also to be presented his 5 Year Certificate, but unfortunately was unable to attend.

Thanks to all all of our members and their families for your service to the community for the last 12 Months.

Thanks to Deputy Group Officer Peta Waterhouse and Commander Marty Newstead for presenting the awards, and to the Crew from Emerald CFA for looking after our area for the night.

Thanks to Emerald RSL for hosting us, Fell Estate for the Catering and Tanya, Caillin and Liam for the Entertainment.

20/08/2026

A massive THANK YOU to Julie and Andrew from Bendigo Bank Upwey & District for donating $10,000 to our Brigade.

These funds will go towards essential emergency response assets to help keep our community safe.

We are incredibly grateful for such a generous donation and thank you and all of your customers who make something like this happen!

18/08/2026

Damaging winds are expected across the central ranges tomorrow morning, Wednesday 19 August, with average winds of 60 to 70 km/h and peak gusts around 90 km/h possible.

Keep up to date with information from the SES and the VicEmergency app or website.

Damaging winds are expected across Greater Melbourne and the central ranges tomorrow morning, Wednesday 19 August 2026.

📍 Central ranges
Winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible from early Wednesday morning.

📍 Greater Melbourne
After sunrise, these winds may extend into Melbourne and parts of the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas.

🕝 Conditions are expected to ease by the afternoon.

You should prepare tonight:
🚗 Park your car undercover.
☂️ Secure outdoor furniture, umbrellas and trampolines.
📲 Stay informed by creating a watch zone on the VicEmergency app.

Take care when travelling tomorrow morning. For emergency storm assistance, like fallen trees on roads or blocking access, call the Victoria State Emergency Service on 132 500.

09/08/2026

Last night, our Brigade responded with both tankers (Cockatoo 1 and Cockatoo 2) to a significant structure fire in Yellingbo requiring a substantial multi-brigade response.

Crews worked alongside neighbouring brigades to contain the incident and safely manage the fireground. Our members provided Breathing Apparatus for both internal and external attack, incident management, pump operations, decontamination, and general operational support.

Attending resources included Yellingbo 1, Yellingbo 2 and Yellingbo Rehab; Macclesfield 1 and 2; Cockatoo 1 and 2; and appliances from Hillcrest, Emerald, Seville, Wandin and Silvan. Group and other command vehicles also supported incident management and coordination.

Other agencies involved include Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, and Ausnet.

The main thing was that no residents or emergency services members were injured. This is testament to both training and risk-based decisions under pressure.

Thank you to every firefighter and support member who turned out and worked across brigade boundaries throughout the incident. Responses of this size rely on clear communications, coordinated command and crews quietly getting on with the job, which was evident last night.

This incident is a timely reminder to test your smoke alarms and make sure everyone in your household knows the escape plan.

In an emergency, get out, stay out and call Triple Zero (000).

A pleasure as always working with our mates from Yellingbo Rural Fire Brigade, Macclesfield Fire Brigade (CFA), Emerald Fire Brigade, Hillcrest Fire Brigade, Wandin Fire Brigade, Seville Rural Fire Brigade (CFA), Silvan Fire Brigade (CFA), Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria

03/08/2026

Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the Greek coordinator and Danish pilot who lost their lives when two Australian-owned firefighting helicopters collided while battling a wildfire west of Athens. We also extend our support to the surviving crew members and the emergency services continuing to confront severe fire conditions across Europe.

Members of our Brigade have operated on firegrounds alongside highly skilled aviation firefighting pilots. We have seen the precision, judgement and courage required to fly heavy aircraft at low altitude, through smoke, turbulence and rapidly changing fire behaviour, often while ground crews work directly beneath them.

Aviation crews are an integral part of modern firefighting operations. Their work protects communities and gives firefighters on the ground options that would otherwise not exist, but this tragedy is a grave reminder of the hazards they accept in carrying out that work.

To our fallen firefighting brethren, duty done.

Requiescant in pace.