Flying bushfire busters in place early

VICTORIA has bolstered its bushfire preparedness by deploying regional firefighting aircraft ahead of schedule to key parts of the state, with a total of fifteen starting their service period early in key locations.

The aircraft can be moved to different locations according to risk, including to regional hubs such as strategically advantageous Bendigo, which operates a pre-determined dispatch system capable of deploying aerial assets without waiting for a fire to be reported and assessed.

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet is made up of a mix of firebombing aircraft, air supervision and information-gathering aircraft, and plays an important role in supporting the ground operations of firefighters.

It also has a call-when-needed capacity of up to 100 aircraft that can supplement the Victorian core fleet, which is available year-round.

The remainder of this year’s aerial firefighting fleet will arrive over the coming days and into early December and are contracted until late March.

These can be extended if required.

The State is facing heightened fire risk this year due to low rainfall, particularly in south-west Victoria, south-west Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and the Wimmera.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said emergency services will do everything they can to support the public, but preparedness is a shared responsibility.

“Ensure you have downloaded the VicEmergency app, and practice using it so you understand what to do and how to get information,” he said.

For more information on how to prepare for fires and other emergencies, download the VicEmergency app or visit the VicEmergency website.