When Dapto Rural Fire Brigade was born 75 years ago, it had no vehicles and no equipment.

Instead a small group of volunteer firefighters, who were mostly farmers, used knapsacks and leather beaters to fight the flames.

The Dapto brigade was formed in April 24, 1940, at a public meeting and a month later on May 21, the first officers, including the captain were elected. Knapsacks, beaters and milk cans to carry water were the only weapons against fire. It wasn't until 1967 that the brigade got its first vehicle - a World War II jeep.

But times have changed. The Dapto brigade, part of the RFS, now boasts about 80 firefighters and three state-of-the-art firefighting trucks.

Dapto firefighters held a dinner at The Grange Golf Club on May 16 to celebrate the brigade's 75th anniversary. Jamberoo Rural Fire Brigade also celebrated its 75th year the same day.

Dapto Rural Fire Brigade captain Harvey Bailey said they only discovered the date the brigade formed last year after newspaper articles were digitised by the National Library of Australia.

"A lot of the members had a knapsack or beater or both on their farm and the extra equipment was kept at the milk factory in Station Street in Dapto," Mr Bailey said.

"In the 1950s, it's recorded in the minutes that Charlie Keys and A. Costa are the water carriers. What we've been told if there was a fire and they needed water, they got the milk factory and loaded their trucks up with milk cans full of water and took them to the fire."

From 1950 to 1967, the manager of the milk factory was secretary of the brigade.

Mr Bailey said they had brigade minutes books dating back to 1956.

The brigade's fire station at Wongawilli underwent $350,000 extensions and renovations last year, which included an extended training room, kitchen new toilets and sleeping area for 12. Dapto's hot fire training facility was used by brigades from across the Illawarra.

Mr Bailey said the brigade covered Reddalls Road at West Dapto to Yallah.

"But we'll go anywhere where we are needed. In February, two of our members went to Western Australia and last month a crew of five went to Central Coast to clean up after the storm and flood."

Dapto's longest-serving member is Ken Fleming, who has been with the brigade for 50 years.

NSW RFS assistant commissioner Stuart Midgley joined Jamberoo brigade members at their 75th anniversary and thanked both them and Dapto for their service.

"Both the Dapto and Jamberoo brigades are well respected and I know they will continue to serve the local community for many years to come," he said.

He presented 11 long service medals to volunteers, who had notched up 220 years' service between them.