Dylan Costa, 5, from Farmborough Heights gets some tips from firefighter Barry Pawelek during the brigade's open day. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON
Pint-sized firefighters of the future have had their first lesson in hosing technique at Rural Fire Service open days across the Illawarra.
Seven Illawarra stations hosted free sausage sizzles on Saturday, as the start to the official fire season nears.
Pam Fothergill, deputy captain at Farmborough Heights RFS, said the days were an opportunity to pass on fire safety information ahead of what is expected to be a busy fire season.
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"We've already had fires at Helensburgh, Budderoo, Jamberoo, a couple of small ones in Dapto," she said.
"It's building up to be a busy one, we think."
The fire service did a hazard reduction burn at Garrawarra at the weekend.
The blaze covered more than 75 hectares of bushland.