Wimmera District Manager – a natural fit for Lauren

Living and working in Horsham during most of her 24 year career, it felt natural for Lauren Todman to step into the Wimmera District Manager role for 6 months starting in August 2025.

'It was important to me that I could provide some stability for the Wimmera district team and emergency partners in the lead up to – and throughout – the upcoming fire season,' Lauren said.

During the 2024/25 summer season, Lauren was active in a variety of roles including Regional Agency Commander based at the Regional Control Centre when the Yarram Gap Fire started in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

Lauren also worked in the role of District Duty Officer and Aircraft Officer in the Horsham Incident Control Centre (ICC) in the months that followed.

'Undertaking the role of Aircraft Officer for 3 Level 3 campaign fires, running concurrently, was unprecedented in my experience. We had 3 air bases open – Hamilton, Stawell and Nhill – with up to 100 aviation staff spread across the sites.'

'It was fabulous to see new equipment used last season, including the deployment of the dip tank sites to enable helicopters to fill with water – and retardant – in areas where there wasn't much water to reduce turnaround flight times back to the fire.'

'The Big Red Retardant Tanker from Albury was also set up at Nhill Airport to support the fixed-wing bombers responding to the Little Desert National Park fire.'

A varied career

Lauren has had a long and varied career in emergency response – initially studying to be a Park Ranger while volunteering with the CFA in Arthurs Creek / Strathewen.

In 2001 Lauren landed a seasonal role with the department – 'and the rest is history! I never thought forest fire management would become my career,' Lauren said.

Lauren has been a District Duty Officer since 2007, and Aircraft Officer since 2010 – lending her service to many fires and other emergency events, including several large campaign fires in the Wimmera and other parts of Victoria.

'One of the highlights of having an emergency role is the unique locations you get to visit when deployed. When I was an operational firefighter, being deployed on taskforces sent me to some amazing places in Hume and Gippsland Regions that I never would have got to experience and visit otherwise.'

'You also get to meet so many amazing people from partner agencies during readiness and response, including professional and volunteer staff from interstate that assist during campaign fires.'

Lauren works hard to achieve a good work/life balance – supporting her family and children and striving to be a strong leader for her colleagues in the Wimmera.

'Trying to strike the right balance between work and home life can be challenging, especially with the afterhours work. It requires constant communication and reassessing things as they change,' Lauren said.

'I am also incredibly fortunate to have a supportive husband who keeps things ticking over at home while I am deployed.'

Preparing for the season ahead

With preparations in full swing for the fire season ahead, Lauren reflects: 'The last 2 fire seasons have been incredibly challenging, with large fires impacting the communities of Dadswell Bridge, Pomonal, Halls Gap, Goroke and Dimboola.'

'The impacts to private property, communities and public land managed by DEECA and Parks Victoria are huge, and recovery (social, economic and environmental) will take years realistically.'

'My message to community members: please don't be complacent as we head into summer. Make sure you have a fire plan, including if you live on acreage out of town; that you have downloaded the VicEmergency App and have notifications for grass and scrub fire turned on.

'Importantly, even if your community has been impacted by fire in the last couple of years, please don't think you've had the fire and don't need to worry about it anymore. Fire can come from another direction under different winds and burn in different fuels, potentially impacting your property too.'

More information

Find out more about making a fire plan: Fires are part of life in Victoria.

Stay up to date about incidents or warnings by downloading the VicEmergency app or on the VicEmergency website.