Merrylands Fire Station celebrates 100 years of operation - Merrylands

Published: 14 Mar 2025 04:02pm

Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) Merrylands Fire Station today marked its 100th birthday.

The Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, Member for Granville, Julia Finn MP and Mayor of Cumberland, Councillor Ola Hamed, joined FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell at the Station in Sydney’s west to celebrate the milestone.

Firefighters were first stationed at Merrylands in February 1925, with the original eight-member crew equipped only with a hose-reel. Several months later, approval was received for a motorised fire appliance, a Ford Model T fire engine.

Over the past century, the station has responded to thousands of incidents, from significant structure fires to motor vehicle incidents and animal rescues.

For the crew, the biggest incident in recent memory is a ‘10th Alarm’ factory fire at Smithfield which occurred in 2023. Station 72 Merrylands was on scene for almost four hours to bring the blaze under control, alongside more than 30 other FRNSW crews.

Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell presented Merrylands Fire Station Captain, Warren Jones with a certificate of service ahead of his retirement after 29 years of dedicated service at FRNSW.

Quotes attributable to Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib:

“Merrylands Fire Station is one of the busiest on-call fire stations in New South Wales, and today’s event celebrates the commitment of everyone who has served there during its rich 100-year history.

“This centenary is a great opportunity to reflect on the contribution made by generations of firefighters at Merrylands Fire Station.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Granville, Julia Finn:

“Fire and Rescue plays such an important role in the local community, not only through its emergency response but also through being a recognisable service associated with safety and reliability.

“Fire stations are often a meeting point for communities and I’m honoured to be part of the celebration marking 100 years of the Merrylands station.”

Quotes attributable to FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell:

“The multi-disciplined crew at Merrylands are among the most experienced on-call crews in the state.

“In 2022, crew members served on multiple strike teams in response to devastating floods in the Northern Rivers and Parkes areas, which gives an insight into their diverse skillset and dedication to helping the community.

“This is a special day for the community the crew at Merrylands Fire Station, and I thank everyone who has contributed to the station’s rich history over the last century.”

Media note: Photos of today’s event can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gqAYoOzfG4-cLnm1caqlzNkECKN31ebT?usp=sharing [external link]