However, that is exactly what Numeralla fire brigade volunteer Steve Donkers did last month.

The RFS advertised internally for expressions of interest for suitably qualified and experienced trainer/assessors who were interested in short term overseas training deployments. Mr Donkers decided it sounded interesting and despite the location being unknown he submitted his CV. The fire fighter was short listed and then selected along with 11 other volunteers and three RFS staff for the program. The initial phase of the Bushfire Awareness Program saw visits to Botswana by teams of two RFS trainers each month for seven months. Mr Donkers went to Botswana with another RFS volunteer from the Bungendore Brigade, Terry O’Leary.

It was the fire fighter’s first trip to Africa and he was very impressed.

“It’s a really good place, it doesn’t have the dramas the rest of Africa has,” he said.

Mr Donkers said he met an Australian gentleman in the airport, who described Botswana as an island that is surrounded by Africa.

Despite Botswana leading the development race ahead of other African nations, it suffers worsening wildfires as the result of climate change.

With little infrastructure to deal with fires at this stage Mr Donkers said creating awareness was key.

“We just went through the basics like what is fire and looking at the fire triangle and how fuel, heat and oxygen is needed to start a fire,” he said.

A long term plan is in place with the NSW RFS and the Botswana Department of Forestry and Range Resources working on a five year plan that will see about 630 government officials educated on fire awareness.

Mr Donkers said he has been a member of his local Numeralla brigade for 20 years and said the experience in Botswana was very rewarding.

“It was great to deliver the training program. There is nothing more satisfying then when you are teaching people something and they are able to understand and get what you are talking about,” he said.

The fire fighter said he takes his fire safety seriously especially living in a small town like Numeralla.

“It is a matter of necessity in the bush; someone has got to do it. I get a bit worried when people say they get excited to fight fires, because they should be scared,” he said.

Mr Donkers is hoping further opportunities to work overseas will happen in the future with potential training programs to be delivered in India and South-East Asia.