Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - 20/Feb 23:45

WA calls for assistance with Manjimup fires

Seven Forestry Corporation staff members are deploying to Western Australia as part of a contingency of NSW fire specialists. Source: Timberbiz Western Australian fire authorities have issued an interstate call for assistance to boost firefighter ranks working to contain fires near Manjimup in the state’s south-west. Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert said Forestry Corporation staff will deploy as part of a NSW contingency comprising fire specialists from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, State Emergency Service and National Parks and Wildlife. “Our firefighters are always eager to assist interstate and overseas firefighting authorities on the fire lines and in fire control rooms,” Ms Talbert said. “Deployments are great learning experiences for professional fire specialists working across different landscapes and forest types, and this experience boosts our own fire-fighting knowledge base here in NSW.” Forestry Corporation staff deploying to Western Australia include Brody Caddis (Crew Leader) and Sophie Hinchcliffe (Advanced Firefighter) from Bombala, Jim Potter (Group Leader) from Narooma and Noel Bate (Firefighter) from Batemans Bay, and experienced fire specialists Peter Carstairs from Batemans Bay and Euan Scott from Bathurst will as-sist in the Incident Management Team. Fire Training Operations Officer Adrien Thompson from Coffs Harbour will also deploy as NSW Jurisdiction Liaison Officer. The deploying firefighters flew out for Perth yesterday. Forestry Corporation, the land manager of two million hectares of state forests in NSW, is one of the state’s four fire agencies and has 500 accredited firefighters on staff.