QUEENSLAND FIREFIGHTERS SEND MORE ASSISTANCE INTERSTATE

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) will extend their interstate taskforce deployments into Victoria, as well as NSW.

Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell today confirmed a request had been received from Victoria to deploy QFRS incident management specialists into bushfire threatened areas of north-eastern Victoria

“The request has come through from the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Victoria, and we are able to meet that request for 12 specialist firefighters, an air attack supervisor, and a liaison officer, who will leave for Victoria on Friday,” he said.

“We have been advised that the situation in some parts of Victoria continues to be serious and we are only too willing to help out when we have available resources.”

Mr Purcell said QFRS would also meet a NSW Rural Fire Service request for a fourth deployment into western NSW.

“The third taskforce deployed to NSW will return Saturday and a fourth will leave later this week,” he said.

Mr Purcell said an extra 65 firefighters, ambulance paramedics and support staff would operate in the region around Narrabri. The first three deployments consisted of a total of 262 firefighters and support staff.

“At this stage we’re working toward the fourth QFRS taskforce being deployed from the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy at Lytton on Friday to be on the ground to relieve crews on Saturday,” Mr Purcell said.

“Most of these firefighters will again be volunteers, this time from brigades around Bundaberg, Maryborough and the Brisbane region.

“This is a marvellous effort by Queensland firefighters, many of whom are volunteers and they go with the best wishes and sincere thanks of the Queensland Government.”

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.