Volunteer firefighters’ lucky escape as truck rolls

Six volunteer firefighters had a lucky escape when their truck rolled over in NSW’s south late on Thursday night, with all escaping major injury.

Six volunteer firefighters had a lucky escape when their truck rolled over in NSW’s south late on Thursday night, with all escaping major injury.

The crew, at least five of whom were Brooklyn-based firefighters, part of a Hornsby Ku-ring-gai strike force team, rolled their truck on the corner of the Princes Hwy and Tomakin Rd, Mogo, about 11pm.

Police said the six men were able to get themselves out of the truck after it rolled, but they were all taken to Batemans Bay Hospital for treatment and four were kept in overnight for observation.

Hornsby RFS Inspector Rolf Poole said the volunteers from his team were being transported home following the accident, which occurred just nine hours after 45-year-old Ian McBeth, 42-year-old First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, and 43-year-old Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr were killed when their firefighting plane crashed in the Snowy Mountains.

“The most important thing is that they are okay,” Insp Poole said.

“The volunteers were part of a six-truck strike force sent down to support local firefighters in the state’s south, so the boys were supported by their local colleagues on the ground after the incident.”

Insp Poole confirmed the entire strike force, including the injured volunteers, were “on their way home” on Thursday.

“Hornsby Ku-ring-gai RFS have been sending strike teams all over the state since August,” he said. “This strike force was on a 24-hour deployment to Moruya.”

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the truck “lost control and rolled over” in an area south of Mogo.

A NSW Health spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph none of the men had serious injuries.

“Two members have already been discharged and it is anticipated the remaining four will be discharged today,” she said.

“Fortunately, none of the RFS members sustained serious injuries.”