Mitigation Crews perform a number of roles, such as helping to prepare areas for hazard reduction by volunteer brigades making the community safer from bush fires.

They also help some of the most at-risk members of our community through the Assist Infirm, Disabled and Elderly Residents (AIDER) program.

After just returning from a job in Sydney, the team say the friendly, welcoming people combined with great food and wine Griffith has to offer makes it worth coming back to and calling home.

Coming from Bathurst originally, Alex Pickering has taken on board the role of crew leader, servicing the whole of the MIA district, as well as assisting outside areas when needed.

“About four and a half years ago I was looking for work, and applied for the state mitigation crew in Oberon. I got the job, and four years later I applied for crew leader here in Griffith and I got the job,” Mr Picker said.

After being in Griffith for nine weeks, he has led his team in prepping burn lines, controlled burning in Sydney, construction of Asset Protection Zones, and assisting the MIA district in general with whatever they need doing.

“They could call us up next week and say we’re needed somewhere, and then off we go. We will travel anywhere in the state.”

Throughout the course of his work for the NSW RFS, Mr Pickering has been to Tasmania, Glenn Innes right through to Beqa, and finally south to Griffith.

“Next week we have a burn prep of Scenic Hill, so hopefully in a few weeks we can burn that one. It’s up to the weather in the district.”

The two-week Sydney trip saw the crew start their day at the location around 9am, and then light up at about 10am, and after about 1pm it was “mop up” time.

“We were only burning small areas, trying to reduce hazards around properties.”

For him the most rewarding thing about the job is the AIDER program, helping disabled, infirm or elderly residents by scouting their properties and removing vegetation to reduce bush fire impact.

Crew Member Deanne Bailey loves the job progression opportunities available within the NSW RFS.

“I joined in 2012 as an original Oberon member, and I did a 10 month contract, I joined the State Mitigation Crew because I wanted a change,” Ms Bailey said.

After being a part of the NSW RFS for quite some time then, she joined again in 2016 before transferring to Griffith.

“Because we do so much, not one job stands out anymore. We can be utilised for anything. Alex and myself have been utilised for RAAFT jobs in NSW, and we’ve been offered to go overseas if possible, there is so many opportunities to what you can do.”

Ms Bailey was one of the members selected to be on stand-by in 2017 for a Canada deployment, however missed out on the chance.

“It changed quickly – the idea was that a lot of volunteers would go first and then we would go after them, but hopefully the opportunity will present itself again.”

She says she can see herself being with the NSW RFS for some time to come.

“There is great career progression,” Ms Bailey said.

“What we do now is we have in place a personal development plan, and that allows us to move forward in the RFS. State Mitigation is seen as a stepping stone now to be able to move into districts and other areas.”

Studying a degree in Criminology and sociology, Christian Fisher-Godwin loves the diversity of the types of jobs and locations he is able to work in.

“I’ve been volunteering for about a year now, and I was recommended to apply for State Mitigation, so here I am in Griffith,” Mr Fisher-Godwin said.

Mr Fisher-Godwin, originally from Armidale, decided to volunteer in the RFS to get some hard-earned life experience while studying at university.

“Going to Sydney and working with other crews would have to be a highlight for me so far.”

“I’ve always been interested in the police force, but I am really enjoying here in the Fire Service, they are great to work for so we’ll see what the future holds.”

When the team was training, Christian happened to end up in one induction in Sydney with Alex and Deanne.

“It was great to get to know them before coming to Griffith, especially moving from so far.”

Moving his family from the Blue Mountains to come to Griffith, David Sproule is so far loving the people and food on offer in Griffith.

“When I was volunteering, a lot of my friends had done State Mitigation work so when the position came up they recommended I put in for it,” Mr Sproule said.

“It was a bit of a change of careers. I was up in the blue mountains, and everything is a bit different here from there, the landscape is different and offers it’s own challenges.”

Moving the family down, Griffith has already stuck him as a place he could see himself staying in for a “good couple of years.”

“It’s a lot more relaxed then where we were before, it is very welcoming, everyone says hello to you, and the district staff are great here as well.”

While you’re with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to you inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you’re up to date with all news in Griffith sign up here.