Rural Fire Service members from the local Cudgegong District are among the many emergency service personnel deployed to Queensland to assist in fighting major bush fires burning across the sunshine state.
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The first crew of four volunteers were sent north on Friday and returned Monday, when the second team of five was deployed and expected to return Thursday ahead of the third crew.
They are part of a multi-agency contingency of firefighters and specialists from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), Fire & Rescue NSW, National Parks and Wildlife Service and ACT RFS.
On Monday evening, there were still more than 100 fires burning across the state.
NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner, Rob Rogers, has praised the support of families and employers of the firefighters.
“Firefighting can be very demanding and our men and women can’t do it without the support of their loved ones,” Deputy Commissioner Rogers said.
“We should also thank the many employers across NSW who have so generously given their workers time off to help in Queensland’s time of need.
“These deployments are part of national resourcing sharing arrangements, and further assistance will be provided if Queensland needs it.”
It continues the cross-state, cross-region support lent to areas around Australia experiencing such disasters – out-of-area crews were common sights in the Mid-West during last year’s Kains Flat fire.
Bushfire-hit parts of Queensland are starting to turn to recovery after 10 days of scorching conditions, however State Fire Commissioner Katarina Carroll says their focus is still on fighting the active fires, but they are also starting to count the cost of the blazes in many areas.
Closer to home, the Bush Fire Danger Rating for the Cudgegong RFS District has recently hit ‘High’. Check the daily rating and if Total Fire Bans are in place at the NSW RFS website, fire information page.