The public is being encouraged to head along to this free event, which promises to be action-packed from the word go.

Tonight from 6.30, the official opening starts with the pipe and drum marching bands. 

On Saturday the action starts at 7.30am and runs through until 5pm. 

Teams will go head to head and show their competence in live fire situations, simulated motor vehicle accidents, an airbase inferno, equipment failures and navigation based events.

The RFS helicopter will be on site and providing water bucketing demonstrations.

On Sunday the action continues from 7.30am until 1pm when the presentations start.

There are 14 different events, 26 individual teams (14 senior and 12 junior) and RFS crews from as far afield as Armidale, Glen Innes and Dubbo vying for top honours. 

Dubbo HQ and Oakville Alpha won the top awards for 2012 at the Port Stephens event and are looking to reclaim their titles.

For all those who love a wood chop, this will be a competition on steroids as the chainsaw challenge gets underway.

There will also be an inaugural catering challenge. 

The cooking competition is new event named “Whose Kitchen Rules?” where NSW RFS volunteer caterers have the opportunity to showcase the skills and proficiency needed to cook for over 400 people under challenging conditions.

Over 100 local volunteers are involved in the set up and in running the event, which takes place every two years.

Winners will be awarded the use of an Isuzu D-MAX community support vehicle for two years for their district, which was generously supplied by Gilbert and Roach Huntingwood and Isuzu Trucks.

Entry is free throughout the weekend at the Pambula Sporting Complex.