The area is fairly thinly populated at the moment with a number of unoccupied properties owned by Melbourne Water. Population centres are along Skyline Road in the north, McKinnon Terrace, Reeves Road and Westering Road in the centre of the area and the Bend of Islands in the south. The Christmas Hills School is situated on the Eltham Yarra Glen Road and Ponylands (a residential riding school) is in Osborne's Road.
The Brigade area is cut in two by the Sugarloaf Dam which makes travel time between the north and south of the area quite long. For this reason we have two sheds with a tanker stationed in each one. This means that on receipt of a call a tanker can be rolling quickly in either the north or the south in minimal time. The other one will be following, not too much later.
Lower Yarra Group is another tier of the volunteer service and its role is to support local brigades whenever there is a need. Meetings are attended by a brigade delegate, usually the Captain, and the group is run by the Group Officer and the Deputy Group Officers. Volunteers from constituent brigades constitute Group Staff.