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Langley- Barfold’s Austin, acquired by the brigade in 1966
From the early days of knapsacks, beaters and buckets to fight fires, Langley-Barfold Fire Brigade has proudly celebrated 100 years of serving and protecting their community.
In November 1924, Barfold Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade was formed and a couple months later in January 1925, Langley brigade formed.
Back then a group of farmers got together and did their best to extinguish fires with the limited supplies they had on hand – funded through local community members.
In 1950, five years after CFA formed, Langley and Barfold brigades amalgamated and became Langley-Barfold Fire Brigade.
A local farmer kindly donated part of his land for the brigade to operate from. CFA later built a new fire station in the 1960’s – with the original shed still remaining on the farmer’s land next door.
Langley-Barfold Captain Mark Bond said while the brigade and its equipment has continued to evolve over the years, their mission has remained, to protect their local community.
“100 years later, it’s still about getting together and fighting fires and being part of the community.
“Firefighting is very different from back in the day where we were put to work with knapsacks filled with water, strapped to our backs and we were told to squirt anything that was red.
“This was back when I was 12 in Inverleigh, near Geelong, where I grew up. Our town was saved and it was the first time I thought about being a firefighter.”
Many years later, Mark moved to Langley and his neighbour who was the current brigade Captain, encouraged him to join the brigade.
Mark climbed the ranks over his 12 years with CFA and has now been Captain for three years.
Mark has been instrumental in setting up clear processes and procedures for the brigade which has been admired by neighbouring brigades who have reached out for advice.
“Our brigade has been working on changing their ways from the 1940’s to 2025. There’s always going to be resistance to change, but it has to happen,” Mark said.
“There’s always going to be fires, especially in this part of the state, so we have to keep up with the advancements in technology, training and overall management of fires.
“I’m proud of our brigade and it’s 62 members, they’re a really vibrant and active brigade.”
Langley-Barfold Fire Brigade had an extension completed last year which gave them a meeting room and toilet. The brigade is also looking forward to receiving their new light tanker next year.
The brigade has responded to several major bushfires over the years. Locally they were greatly impacted by the 1944, Ash Wednesday and February 2009 bushfires.
More recently, the brigade was deployed to assist with the 2019/20 fires as a strike team based at Ovens and Mallacoota.
Mark encourages anyone living or moving to a rural area like Langley-Barfold, to join their local CFA.
“Unless you are involved in a community activity, like CFA, you’ll never meet anyone. Brigades are a great way to get to meet the community and make friends, while saving lives,” Mark said.
The brigade recently held its 100th anniversary celebrations at the Kyneton Ridge Estate.
A book called ‘Time and Change – 100 Years of the Langley Barfold Fire Brigade’ was also recently launched to mark their centenary. More details on this book can be found here.
- Brigade’s first tanker – a water tank and primitive pump mounted on member’s Thornycroft truck
- Langley-Barfold at a fire near Sidonia. Photo courtesy Midland Express