In the early days the Brigade held little equipment, volunteers attended fires and used corn sacks to beat out flames. Some used an axe to cut brush for a beater. The lucky ones had a knap-sack spray. Water was taken from the nearest dam or creek that wasn't dry.
A bus shelter/fire equipment shed was erected about this time, opposite the Hall Premier Store, from material salvaged from the old Mulligan's Flat School. The shed housed leather beaters, McLeod tools, knap-sack sprays etc. A hand pump used at this time to transfer water is still in the Brigade's Shed.
A 2000 gallon water tank was erected on a high stand on the north/west corner of Victoria and Gladstone Street's, as a fire fighting water source, it was kept full by the Government water tanker. The water supply to Hall had been under consideration for many years. With furthur persistance from the Hall Progress Association the long awaited water supply for the Village of Hall became a reality in 1967. The official turning on of the water was performed by the Minister, the Hon. J.D. Anthony M.P. on April 1 1967.
At this time a length of canvas and a stand-pipe was given to the village by the A.C.T. Fire Brigade, who showed the locals how to operate them. The new equipment was stored in a box at the Estate Agent's Office (Dalgety's) in Victoria Street.
The orginal Brigade died out sometime around the late 1960's, this was partly due to a lack of equipment and because most residents worked away from the village and were not available during the day.
On February 13 1979, known as "Black Tuesday", a fire started at 'Sunny Corner', just over the creek from the Hall Showground. Losses in the A.C.T. were 2 cottages, 3 sheds, machinery, stored fodder, about 5,000 sheep, 6 horses and $200,000 worth of fencing. The majority of losses were in the Hall district. A total of 16,5000 hectares of land was burnt out in the A.C.T. and N.S.W. The cause of the fire was a drop-out fuse from a high tension powerline.
After the "Black Tuesday" fire Mr Jim Rochford gathered together a group of local's and in October 1979 under C.F.C.O. Cliff Parsons a new era of the Hall Volunteer Bushfire Brigade commenced. The new Brigade had 14 financial members.
The first captain was Ian Rosby and subsequent captains were Kevin (Charlie) Wilson, Brian O'Connor to our present captain Kevin Bolton.
The new Brigade's first vehicle was a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser, complete with pump and tank, which was presented to the Brigade in November 1979 by the C.F.C.O. Cliff Parsons.
In 1982 the A.C.T. Bush Fire Council presented the Brigade with a 1962 Bedford tanker (3500 Litres capacity). This vehicle was 'retired' in September 1990, and is now on permanent loan to the neighbouring Wallaroo Brigade in N.S.W.
A 3 door fire shed was erected in Loftus Street in 1985 after years of negotiations. It was officially opened by the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen on April 19 1986. This was the first of the new Government sponsored fire sheds in the A.C.T.
Hall was the first volunteer Brigade to host a Field Day for the A.C.T. Volunteer Bushfire Brigade's Association in 1985, and has arguably the best record in Field Day achievements at this point in time. Hall's original idea was to lift the standard of all the A.C.T. Brigades and judging from the results of the last few Field Days, they have achieved this goal.
Brian O'Connor (Secretary Hall VBB) December 12 1994