More firefighters head to East Gippsland

MORE firefighters from across the Otways have
made their way to East Gippsland bushfires, to
continue supporting firefighting efforts.

Firefighters from Anglesea, Apollo Bay and
Lorne are part of the latest Forest Fire Management
Victoria (FFMV) taskforce from the Barwon South
West region to travel to the fireground.

The taskforce of 16 departed on Tuesday for a seven-day deployment.

They join more than 190 staff from Forest Fire Management Victoria, CFA and other agencies fighting the fires.

Previous taskforces deployed to the fires have included firefighters from Geelong, Anglesea, Apollo Bay and Queenscliff.

The Gippsland bushfires have burned more than 12,500 hectares.

“This is the third taskforce deployed from the Barwon South West region, to help fight the fires in Gippsland,” FFMV district manager for the Otways David Rourke said.

“We’ve now sent 46 Barwon South West firefighters on three separate deployments since the Gippsland bushfires began in late September.

“It’s an opportunity for us to support colleagues in another region, while giving our newly-trained staff valuable experience on the fireground.

“Our crews have been conducting blacking out operations, to strengthen containment lines around the fire.”

“Crews will also work along the fire edge, clearing unburnt debris to prevent it from re-igniting.”