Southern Fire Fighters Heading to Victoria

Friday, 20 February 2009

Nine southern firefighters leave today to help fight the bushfires which have killed at least 181 people and have devastated large areas in Victoria in Australia.

Southern Rural Fire Authority Principal Rural Fire Officer Mike Grant said the nine are a mixture of forestry staff, forestry contractors and Department of Conservation staff.

"They need people who are used to hill and hill country and broken terrain and obviously people with forestry knowledge," Mr Grant said.

The team leaves at 6.30am this morning (Friday 13 February) and flies to Melbourne, along with the rest of the New Zealand team of 44.

The Kiwis will be briefed about the situation in Melbourne tomorrow and then go out on to the firelines on Sunday, Mr Grant said.

The team will be in Victoria for 18 days, working two seven-day assignments, with two rest days in between.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Mike Grant
Principal Rural Fire Officer, Southern Rural Fire District
Ph (0800) 732 732
Mobile: 027 471 6095

Who to contact

If you would like to discuss a matter on this page, feel free to contact us:

Southland District Council
P.O. Box 903
Invercargill 9840
Phone: 0800 732 732
Fax: 0800 732 329
emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz