Mansfield CFA member Olivia Karaula plans to make her local brigade proud by taking on the challenge of climbing 28 floors in 25kgs of gear to raise much needed funds for cancer and mental health charities.

Arriving in town at the end of last year to take up a placement role in the environmental health department at the Mansfield Shire, Olivia joined the local CFA.

“It was something I started three years ago with the Plenty CFA (where her family live) as a way to give back to the local community and I fell in love with it,” Olivia said.

“The first thing I look at is how to build connections with community.”

When she is not busy studying as part of her placement, Olivia is committed to serving as an operational firefighter with the local brigade and making the most of any training opportunities.

“The Mansfield Fire Brigade responds to fires in town so the urban course which I did in Wangaratta in July now qualifies me to enter buildings internally with breathing apparatus,” said Olivia.

She described the training as being intense but is really looking forward to being able to step up and protect local businesses and homes in urban settings.

The smaller brigades in outlying areas do not always have the necessary resources or appropriately trained personnel to fight structural fires so the Mansfield CFA provides backup support as needed, Olivia said.

Her commitment involves training with the brigade once a month, carrying out rostered duties, and responding to call outs when possible, within work constraints.

Despite her busy schedule, Olivia, finds time for physical exercise to help prepare for her Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb inside Crown Towers on 6 September.

This will be her second attempt at improving her performance from last year’s event but this time as a member of the Mansfield CFA.

In 2024, Olivia ranked 14th in the18 to 34 year old female category out of 60 participants.

“In July I ran a half marathon, and to kick start my getting into the climbing did the Paps several times,” she said.

She has been excising in her weighted vest which has attracted a “few strange looks” but will prepare her for running on air up several flights of stairs.

Olivia said the event attracts firefighters from across Australia creating a great atmosphere with everyone in their gear.

Next year the young firefighter hopes to wrangle a few more of her fellow brigade members to join in the challenge.

Olivia is passionate about raising as much funds as she can with 100 per of proceeds going to support the work of Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and 000Foundation.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Olivia to “step up to fight cancer, depression, and suicide” can visit her fundraising page on firefighterclimb.org.au