Newman volunteer firefighter heads to the big smoke to become a pro after topping his class

A Newman volunteer firefighter is headed to the big smoke to become a professional after topping his class in the intense Department of Fire and Emergency Service selection process. Luke Smith served in the Newman Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service for three years and will now become one of WA’s newest professional firefighters along with 29 other successful trainees. Mr Smith, who originally moved to Newman to work in the mining industry in 2019, said he was drawn to firefighting as a way to get involved in the community. “When I moved to Newman, being a single man there wasn’t a lot to do so I started with the Newman VFRS,” he said. “It was a great way to get out in the community and help people out. “It kept me busy because I was up there on my own.” Mr Smith finished top of his class for the academic component of the course and will be working out of the Maddington Station in Perth. While he had a good career working in the resource industry, Mr Smith said firefighting ran in his blood so he knew he had to do it. “My old man had a 20-year career in the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service,” he said. “I’ve grown up around it and it’s always something that I’ve wanted to do.” The process of becoming a professional firefighter is incredibly competitive with the most recent intake having received 1200 applications. Mr Smith said the 21-week training course was equally tough but very rewarding. “The school was mentally and physically challenging at times,” he said. “But you make a lot of friends and everyone is going through the same thing so everybody rallies around to push each other through the school.” He said firefighting was a fulfilling vocation and encouraged others to consider volunteering at their local station.