NSW and ACT reinforcements on the way to Tasmania
Published Date: 22 Jan 2016
Summary
NSW and ACT emergency service agencies have coordinated 140 personnel to assist in the current fire emergency in Tasmania including 100 remote area firefighters, 35 incident management and liaison personnel and five paramedics, along with thirty trucks and two aircraft.
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the remote area specialists comprise of 60 NSW RFS firefighters, 20 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) firefighters and 20 firefighters from the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), along with five specialist paramedics who will be embedded with the crews.
Liaison and incident management specialists have been sourced from NSW RFS, NPWS, ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW).
“With more than 56 fires burning across Tasmania, and no significant rainfall on the horizon, local resources are understandably stretched,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“NSW and ACT fire agencies, along with the support of NSW Ambulance, are privileged to work together to provide relief to local Tasmanian firefighters and assist in their fire emergency.”
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott thanked the firefighters, paramedics and management specialists for offering to help out these communities in their time of need.
“NSW and ACT have skilled firefighters and experts in emergency management who are always ready to assist during times of crisis,” Mr Elliott said.
The aircraft and vehicles will arrive in Tasmania on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, ahead of two contingents of firefighters and management specialists, scheduled to be deployed from Sydney on Saturday and Sunday.
