Open day for the Jewish community

Firefighters will be opening the doors to Bondi Fire Station for the Fire and Rescue NSW Jewish Community Open Day, from 10am-1pm on Sunday, May 28.

Children will be able to see a fire truck, demonstrations, and firefighting equipment, while the grown-ups will be able to find out more about home fire safety.

Senior firefighter at the Bondi Fire Station, Eddie Vaysbakh – who is Jewish – said the open day is an opportunity to show people that firefighters do so much more than fight fires.

“From fires, road crashes, hazardous material incidents, and natural disasters, to urban search-and-rescue operations, our crews are prepared for anything, and ready to help anytime, anywhere,” he said.

“A large part of our role is to educate the community about home fire safety, and that’s where the open day comes in.

“This year we are focusing on the importance of having a working smoke alarm in your home.”

According to Fire and Rescue NSW, each year, approximately 20 people die in NSW from fires that could have been prevented.

Each death is a tragic loss for families, friends and the wider community.

Additionally, for each fire fatality, there are also hundreds more people who survive a fire, but suffer life-changing health consequences.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said there is a 10 per cent increase in the number of house fires during the cooler months of the year, with many fires starting in bedrooms and lounge rooms due to faulty heaters and electric blankets, or people leaving items too close to heaters that are in use.

“This year we want to help residents prepare their homes [to be more fire safe], and in particular, encourage them to check their smoke alarms, and have a home fire escape plan,” Baxter said.

The event is on Sunday, May 28 at Bondi Fire Station, and will be the first NSW Jewish Community fire station open day held since the COVID pandemic began.

It was first introduced, with Vaysbakh’s input, as a means to include the Jewish community in fire station open days, which usually are held around the state on Saturdays only.

Bondi Fire Station is located at 359 Old South Head Rd, North Bondi.