Sophie and her father, Doug Amos, in their Echuca CFA shirts.
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When 16-year-old Echuca CFA member Sophie Amos set out for the Fire and Rescue NSW Firefighter Championships in Wagga Wagga in October 2024, she never imagined she’d return home with real-life firefighting experience.
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Sophie and her Echuca Fire Brigade teammates placed first overall across the championships, which were held from Thursday, October 24 to Saturday, October 26, beating second-placed Wyong by 20 points.
Upon returning to their accommodation after a long day of competition on October 24, the Echuca CFA team smelled smoke and after some investigation, discovered a fire in the suburb of Ashmont.
“When we pulled around the corner, we couldn’t see or hear any fire trucks, so I got on the phone to call 000,” Sophie said.
“Almost immediately after, a fire truck came racing towards us. We introduced ourselves to the crew and asked how we could help.”
Sophie, who had only recently completed her general firefighter training, soon found herself assisting at the fire ground, setting up water points, connecting hoses and unkinking lines.
“Everything I’d learnt during training really came together in that moment,” she said.
Back at their accommodation, Sophie’s father and CFA member, Doug Amos, waited anxiously for updates.
“To see her head off to her first fire was a moment I’ll always remember,” Doug said.
The Wagga Wagga fire that Sophie Amos and Echuca CFA helped put out.
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“I knew she was with a capable crew, and I was confident she’d step up. Sophie has worked so hard for this, from helping during the 2022 Echuca floods to earning Junior Firefighter of the Year last summer.”
Firefighting is a family tradition for the Amos family. Sophie grew up inspired by her father, uncle, and cousin, all members of the Echuca Fire Brigade at one time or another.
She joined CFA’s junior running team at age 13 and has been a dedicated member ever since.
“CFA has really helped me grow as a person,” she said.
“I’ve met amazing people and gained skills I never thought I’d have. I’d recommend it to any young person, you never know where it might lead you.”
Sophie hopes her experiences can inspire other young people to consider volunteering.
“Being on the front line of an actual fire showed me the real impact we can have,” she said.
“It’s not just about fighting fires, it’s about being part of something bigger.”
