The ACT Fire and Rescue maintains 50 CFU 's with about 850 volunteer members . Following the disastrous 2003 Canberra bushfires which impacted significant urban areas of the city of Canberra , destroying over 400 homes and killing 4 people , the ACT Government introduced a similar program of CFUs based on the NSW model . Communities organise volunteers to form local units who on application , may receive a community fire fighting unit trailer with fire fighting equipment and the appropriate clothing and protective equipment for each volunteer . In the ACT , CFU volunteers are identified by blue clothing , to distinguish from the fire brigade 's yellow attire
2003 Canberra bushfires
2003 Canberra bushfires
Community Fire Unit