A number of local Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigades are set to be better equipped to deal with bushfires thanks to a number of generous donations from across the Canobolas zone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
30 high-powered blowers will be distributed to brigades such as Mt McDonald, Wyangala, Barryrenie and Gooloogong.
Canobolas Zone RFS operations manager, Brett Bowden said the blowers can be used in a variety of ways.
"They can be used for extinguishing small fires by blowing them out but more correctly, they are actually used to clear little containment lines for fires," he said.
"They're also used for hazard reduction activities when we're trying to do that preparation work."
More than $24,000 was raised to purchase the blowers, kickstarted by the Orange Art Society.
Orange Art Society President, David Mason said one of his members came up with the idea to hold an auction, which raised more than $14,000.
"One of the ladies in our Art Group, she came up with the idea and I think partly because they live out in the bush... and she thought, we're all feeling pretty helpless, Australia was burning basically, this is a way we can kind of help," Mr Mason said.
"We're definitely very happy about it... it's good to see that we've done so much to help everyone."
Mr Bowden said with funds raised locally the RFS decided to spend the money locally, purchasing the blowers from local retailers in Cowra, Blayney and Orange.
"Whilst they're [local brigades] funded by the government, we can't always necessarily give them the nice equipment that a lot of brigades want. This is certainly cream on top and it will be well used by the brigades getting them," he said.