Cust Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1950. In 1995 a new Station was built to accommodate the needs of the Brigade. In October 2000 Cust Volunteer Fire Brigade held it's 50th Jubilee. The Brigade covers a large area between the Ashley and Waimakariri Rivers including a major portion of the Eyrewell Forest, all of which form their boundaries. The Brigade also shares common boundaries with Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade in the west and Rangiora and Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigades in the east. In February 1987 the Brigade participated in fighting the Burnt Hill and Browns Rock fire which laid waste to 2400 hectares of farmland and buildings. To date this has been the most severe fire in the Brigade's history. Cust Volunteer Fire Brigade has an establishment of 18 firefighters. Two currently serving members have been awarded the QFSM and several members of the Brigade have now had more than 25 years of service to their local community.

Cust is approximately 48kms inland north-west of Christchurch in the heart of North Canterbury and is part of the Waimakariri District. Primarily it is a service township for the local rural community. Cust is one of the oldest European communities in Canterbury and there are several pre-European Maori settlement sites nearby. Although primarily a sheep farming district, many local farmers are now looking to diversify their farming methods. There are also several notable wineries in and around Cust.