Apart from the serious message of fire safety, Saturday’s open day at Taree Fire Station brought with it lots of fun... in the form of sirens and fire hoses in action.

“It was a great day for everyone,” acting station commander Shane Austin said. “We had about 200 people come along, with lots of kids who got to sit in the cabin of the trucks and activate the sirens and lights.

“And we had a hose out... so there was a bit of water splashed about!”

The annual open day across New South Wales is the opportunity for the community to see how fire stations work, while picking up valuable tips on fire safety. Often it also acts as a recruitment drive, giving potential new firefighters the chance to talk with existing crews of men and women.

After a big day on Saturday, members of Taree Fire and Rescue played hosts on Sunday to the second reunion of past brigade members.

About 40 people attended, travelling from as far as Perth. They included several former captains and a number of former retained Taree firefighters who are now permanently employed at other stations.

The group enjoyed the magnificent autumn weather with a game of bowls and barbecue at Taree West Bowling Club.

It is now hoped to make the reunion an annual gathering.