Corrimal Fire and Rescue station to dance on TikTok during virtual open day

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fire and Rescue NSW did not want to cancel its annual open day at stations so instead the event has moved online.

Activities and videos will be streamed and posted via the Fire and Rescue NSW website and on individual stations' social media pages from 10am Saturday to 4pm Friday 22.

Read more: Police seize $7.6m worth of cannabis at Calderwood in one of region's biggest drug busts

Corrimal station commander Paul Dorin encouraged Illawarra residents to follow the station's social media accounts so they did not miss out on the content.

"It has been a challenge to plan for the open day virtually," Captain Dorin said.

"But Fire and Rescue has gotten on board and we have been watching how other organisations are adapting and using online tools.

"We will run the open day on social media.

"At Corrimal, we have talented young firefighters who know how to use social media and create videos.

"We, along with other stations, will post videos where people can meet the crew and firefighters can tell jokes and funny stories. We will also talk about our role in the recent bushfires.

"We have thought of different, fun and creative ways to host the open day."

Cpt Dorin is a talented cartoonist and will show a virtual exhibition of his cartoons from the summer of bushfires, and drawings he has done over the years.

The crew will go live on social media three times, will do tours of the station and the female firefighters will talk about what drew them to the organisation.

He said they would also dance on new platform TikTok.

"Winter is usually our busiest time of the year, along with summer, as domestic house fires start in the kitchen, from electric blankets or in fireplaces," Cpt Dorin said.

The crew will talk about kitchen fire safety and how to check smoke alarms, as well as how firefighters arrive at the station and respond to Triple 0 calls.

Cpt Dorin said the information would be particularly useful for anyone who wanted to join the organisation, which would open a recruitment drive soon.