Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade

Est. April 21, 1971

Open Day 2025

The Woodgate Emergency Services Complex currently hosts three volunteer groups, the Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade, The Woodgate First Responders and the SES. We are having an open day on Saturday April 5, 2025 to demonstrate what we do in the community and let people know how they can help our groups and get involved. Come down and say g'day, grab a sausage sizzle and participate in some fun activities.

What is that siren?

There are 3 sirens located around Woodgate that are set off to let Rural Fire Brigade members know that they should respond to a fire. They may run for 4 minutes.

What should you do if you hear these sirens?

 IF YOU SEE A FIRE, CALL 000 STRAIGHT AWAY

The Story of Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade

Woodgate Beach, Queensland

The formal application to form an official volunteer bushfire brigade in 1971.

A bushfire near the village of Woodgate Beach in 1968 prompted the town to consider an official brigade.

The brigade operated from a small shed with equipment such as this fire fighting trailer.

The first truck owned by the brigade, labelled the Wodgate Voluntary Bush Fire Brigade, circa 1981.

Our modern appliances are more sophisticated. Woodgate 51, 52, 35 & 91 in 2020.

Aerial view of Woodgate National Park when it was part of the Parish of Hercules taken in 1971.

Woodgate 51 patrolling the fireground in the national park, March, 2021.

John, Noel, Henk, Glenda, Ray and Keith take a break during the bushfire that started in the summer of 2019 and burned well into 2020.

Dad's Army

The 'internet famous' Dad's Army as they were dubbed, during the Whoppis Road bushfire in November 2019.  All over 70 years of age, this dedicated group put in many hours to help keep Woodgate and surrounds safe.  

This fire saw volunteer firefighters put in over 2,551 person hours - which is not counting the hours put in by the catering teams and the radio operators.

We also had fantastic support from the surrounding brigades, including Goodwood, Gregory River, Childers and even a team from New Zealand who (according to our Chairman Pat Drew) "came over to see where all the smoke was coming from".

The fire eventually burnt out but the brigade attended the fire regularly well into January 2020.

50th Anniversary

Members and guests celebrated the brigade's 50th anniversary in April 2021. 

The brigade currently has around 45 active members we can call on during an emergency.

Volunteers attending a stack burn on behalf of a local lresident.

New Members

Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade welcomes new members. 

If you are over 16, live in Woodgate and want to be part of a great team of Volunteers and contribute to the safety of the community, join now!

The brigade needs not only fire fighters but the vital support members who look after us while we are on the fireground, keeping communications open and making sure we are stocked with food and water during an incident.

For more information on how to apply, see this link or send an email to secretary@woodgaterfb.org.

The Woodgate Emergency Services Complex (WESC) is located at 146 Acacia Street, Woodgate, Queensland 4660. Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade shares this space with the local First Responders (Volunteers under the Queensland Ambulance Service) and the State Emergency Services (SES). The WESC is not attended full time as all who use it are volunteers. All groups welcome new volunteers and if you'd like more information please contact us via the facebook link below.