How Berrigan became the birthplace of volunteer bush firefighting

Key points

• The small New South Wales town of Berrigan is widely recognised as the birthplace of volunteer bush firefighting. Its brigade, formed in 1896 by baker John Thomson, responded to fires with volunteers beating flames using hand-made tools.
• In 1900, a meeting at the Royal Hotel formalised the brigade, which later evolved into the NSW Rural Fire Service. A memorial marking the town's role was unveiled in 2001.
• The brigade marked its 125th anniversary in September 2025.