SA Country Fire Service

Media release

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FIREY WOMEN IN THE BAROSSA

30/07/2014

The CFS will hold a two-day bushfire safety workshop next month aimed at helping women prepare for the Fire Danger Season.

The Firey Women program which has gained national recognition through the Australian Safer Communities Awards, will take place at Nuriootpa.

CFS Community Engagement Officer Penny Kazla said the workshop has enjoyed great success in the past and has been well received since its inception nine years ago.

"It was developed after the Wangary bushfires with research supporting a need to deliver bushfire safety information and education to women in rural communities," Penny said.

"We recognised that on days of significant fires, that it is common in households for the men to be out fighting fires while their wives or partners are at home with children to defend their homes," she said.

"We were concerned that women were more likely to evacuate their homes with their children at the last minute and putting them at great risk in the absence of adequate training or knowledge of bushfire safety."

The Firey Women program initially started on Eyre Peninsula and is now delivered throughout South Australia.

"The workshops provide women with the opportunity to learn new skills to protect their families and livelihoods, in a safe, non-threatening setting," Penny said.

The topics include:
- Preparing yourself emotionally
- Understanding bushfire warnings and fire danger ratings
- Preparing a Bushfire Survival Plan
- Identifying hazards around the home
- Operating pumps and firefighting equipment

The next round of Firey Women workshops in the Barossa Valley will take place at the Nuriootpa Library at 43 Tanunda Road, on Sun Aug 24 (Day 1) and Sun Aug 31 (Day 2).

Anyone who is interested in taking part in a Firey Women session should contact Tania Paull at the Nuriootpa Library on 8563 8448 or by email at tpaull@barossa.sa.gov.au

For more information contact Penny Kazla on 0457 101 696.

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Media information
For media enquiries call the CFS Media Line on 08 8115 3531.

Government of South Australia