The teenagers were among 200 of the state’s finest volunteer firefighters who descended on Pambula in southern NSW last month.

Firefighters and their skills and equipment were put to the test in a series of simulated emergency situations ranging from motor vehicle accidents, navigation and helicopter water drops, to bush, grass and structure fires.

They were tested on leadership, teamwork, adaptation and decision making.

It was no surprise the Young cadets took out the specialty event ‘find ‘em, fix ‘em’, which involved navigating to an accident in bushland and administering first aid. 

The second event they won was a sprint challenge where they were required to navigate a truck tyre over ramps and obstacles to get it to the tanker. Once there, the cadets needed to attach the tyre to the back of the tanker. While this was happening, smoke and fire was simulated as heading in their direction and the cadets had to perform an overrun scenario for protection.

Young ranked fifth overall in the state.

They will head off to nationals next September at Myuna Bay on the Central Coast.

“Our team was amazing on the weekend in Pambula,” one parent spectator Amanda Butt said. 

“The team was led very well by officer in charge Tristan Langfield. He used the PMR system very well and was a well respected and confident leader of his team,” she said.

Fellow cadet Jacob Robertson navigated the team to victory in record time and teamed well with Lizzie Butt who took charge on first aid. 

Nicholas Summerfield is renowned for his reliability on pumps and had great experience acting as crew leader in four events. 

Amanda said Young’s newest cadets Jarrod Livolsi and Charlie Butt also took to the challenge very well. 

“Jarrod was a fantastic team member and stepped up confidently to lead a very difficult event involving his crew using foam to put out a simulated diesel fire,” she said. 

While her son Charlie Butt showed committment and strength in the ‘equipment catastrophe’ event, working well with Nicholas to bring his team neck and neck with their opponents.

“An enormous thank you to the commitment of Sam Tout team coach for his many Sunday trainings and leadership of the team,” Amanda added.