Rural Fire Service volunteers have been deployed from Townsville to help firefighters in NSW
Townsville will join forces with the exhausted firefighters battling the apocalyptic bushfires down south that have been burning since November.
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TOWNSVILLE will join forces with the exhausted firefighters battling the apocalyptic bushfires down south that have been burning since November.
Eighteen Rural Fire Service volunteer fireries from Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mount Isa and Bowen departed Townsville Airport today to assist in the NSW firefighting effort.
The team will take the burden off NSW firefighters over the next five days providing support on fire trucks.
The volunteers have not been told exactly what they will be doing but are eager to get their boots on the ground to help in the region.
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Rural Fire Service area training and support officer Robyn Bowering said the team was “ready to rumble”.
“That’s why people volunteer, they volunteer to help their community and any other community and when people are hurting, it is the Australian way, we want to be there and help,” she said.
“We will be fully briefed so there should be nothing unexpected, we expect anything and there will be different landscape and topography that we are not used to so it is a good experience.”
The team reflects a diverse firefighting unit with a mix of males and females of all ages and experiences.
A text message was sent out to the volunteers last week asking for expressions of interest to assist in the firefighting efforts.
Fifty-six-year-old Eric Turner from Alva Beach has volunteered with the Rural Fire Service for 12 months and said he was fully prepared for the task ahead.
“When I got the text message I spoke with my wife and said I would like to go down and help out, it is heartbreaking to see some of the damages but I am willing to help out wherever I can,” he said.
“Being in the Queensland Fire Rescue (for 13 years), I have been in house fires and road accidents so you know what danger you are up against, you just have to work as a team, that’s all you can do.”
Rural Fire Service volunteer Kimberleigh Smith from Mount Isa said she was humbled to be able to make a contribution in a time of need.
“If we can give the local crews a chance to rest or if we can make any sort of impact will be really good for us,” she said.
“It is a different sort of firefighting style from where I come from so I am slightly excited to see what that is going to bring but it is a nice heartening feeling to know we are able to help.”
Originally published as Rural Fire Service volunteers have been deployed from Townsville to help firefighters in NSW