TRAINEE firefighters battled a bout of small blazes which broke out in Hume on Saturday.
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But no one was in danger; the contained fires were all part of a training exercise to help prepare the ACT Rural Fire Service's newest recruits to battle summer's most vicious infernos.
A group of 25 men and women were the latest to be trained for the service, which has seen a 40 per cent increase in volunteers in the past five years.
The rookies learnt how to unreel hoses from trucks, select nozzles, use hand tools such as axes and saws and put out a blaze with a fire extinguisher during the course's practical component.
In recent weeks they have also been taught to recognise factors which could influence fire behaviour, such as weather conditions and topography.
The ACT RFS will use the cooler months to train new volunteers before the start of the bushfire season.
Chief officer Andrew Stark said the latest group would join almost 600 volunteer firefighters in the territory.
''There's a real mix of male and female, all from different backgrounds,'' he said.
''Some work for the ACT government or the Commonwealth government, others work in the private sector.''
He said Saturday's exercise, which took place at the ACT Emergency Services Agency training centre, marked the end of formal training for the recruits.
''But every time you go to a fire you see something different and learn something new,'' he said. ''So although this is a wonderful milestone for them they'll continue to learn and pick up new skills.''
Chief officer Stark credited a surge in volunteers in recent years to an effective recruitment drive.
''People see it as a good way of giving back to the ACT community and communities beyond when we travel out.
''Fires are one of the biggest threats to the ACT and south-eastern Australia and there's definitely no shortage of work each summer.''