MORE firefighters from across the Otways have
\nmade their way to East Gippsland bushfires, to
\ncontinue supporting firefighting efforts.<\/p>\n
Firefighters from Anglesea, Apollo Bay and
\nLorne are part of the latest Forest Fire Management
\nVictoria (FFMV) taskforce from the Barwon South
\nWest region to travel to the fireground.<\/p>\n
The taskforce of 16 departed on Tuesday for a seven-day deployment.<\/p>\n
They join more than 190 staff from Forest Fire Management Victoria, CFA and other agencies fighting the fires.<\/p>\n
Previous taskforces deployed to the fires have included firefighters from Geelong, Anglesea, Apollo Bay and Queenscliff.<\/p>\n
The Gippsland bushfires have burned more than 12,500 hectares.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the third taskforce deployed from the Barwon South West region, to help fight the fires in Gippsland,\u201d FFMV district manager for the Otways David Rourke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve now sent 46 Barwon South West firefighters on three separate deployments since the Gippsland bushfires began in late September.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for us to support colleagues in another region, while giving our newly-trained staff valuable experience on the fireground.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur crews have been conducting blacking out operations, to strengthen containment lines around the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCrews will also work along the fire edge, clearing unburnt debris to prevent it from re-igniting.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n