Townsville Chinooks arrive in Victoria to battle deadly bushfires

Three CH-47 Chinooks from Townsville’s 5th Aviation Regiment have landed in Victoria to help firefighters battling deadly fires in the country’s south.

Twitter image from Linda Reynolds, Minister for Defence of helicopters at Sale helping the bushfire relief.

THREE CH-47 Chinooks from Townsville’s 5th Aviation Regiment have landed in Victoria to help firefighters battling deadly fires in the country’s south.

The twin-blade Chinooks took off from Townsville on New Year’s Day and landed at RAAF Base East Sale on Thursday night.

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Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the choppers will on Friday “support firefighting operations” and provide “humanitarian assistance to remote and isolated communities”.

The Australian Defence Force is working with Emergency Management Australia to assist with firefighting operations in New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.

Queensland Rural Fire Service volunteers will also travel south to battle fires in New South Wales.

A total of 75 Queensland fire and rescue personnel have been sent to NSW.

The bushfire death toll in NSW has risen to 16.

Two people have been confirmed dead in Victoria and 28 are missing.

Originally published as Townsville Chinooks arrive in Victoria to battle deadly bushfires