Local fireys to help Canadian friends in need

A GROUP of five local Barwon South West firefighters has answered the call to support their Canadian friends during that nation’s devastating bushfires.

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) firefighters Sarah Pedrazzi, Samantha Shepherd, Chrissy Noble, Tim Bennett and Harrison Veale departed last week ahead of a month on the fireline in British Columbia.

They will join another 57 FFMVic personnel from across the state in supporting the response.

Deputy chief fire officer Mark Mellington said his team took pride in continuing a long-standing relationship with Canada.

“Our firefighters are well-prepared to face the challenging and remote terrain of Canada, bringing specialist skills in tree-felling and dry firefighting techniques,” Mr Mellington said.

“These efforts involve hard work, dedication and a commitment to making a positive impact.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our deployed staff and to their colleagues and loved ones who support them from home.”

Mr Mellington said the deployment would offer invaluable experiences for its FFMVic staff.

“Deployments like this expand their bushfire knowledge and operational experience in different environments, allowing them to apply what they learn to manage large-scale bushfires at home,” he said.

“FFMVic staff will bring extensive emergency management experience, taking on specialist roles including international liaison officer, air operations manager, liaison and planning officers, airbase manager, air attack supervisor and strike team leaders.”

As Victoria prepares for the upcoming bushfire season, FFMVic is recruiting several hundred project firefighters to bolster its permanent firefighting staff.

For more information, head to jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/pff