NSW Bushfires: Beaconsfield survivor Todd Russell among Tasmanian fireys sent to assist NSW

A Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor is one of 41 Tasmanian volunteer fireys helping to battle the devastating bushfires in the NSW’s south.

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Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor Todd Russell has joined the fight against the devastating bushfires in the state’s south, landing on the fire-ravaged south coast yesterday with a strong contingent of Tasmanian firefighters.

Beaconsfield mine disaster survivor and now Beaconsfield Fire Brigade chief Todd Russell (front) has joined a team of Tasmanian firefighters who have flown to NSW to help fight fires.

Mr Russell and fellow miner Brant Webb made global headlines almost 14 years ago, when they miraculously survived two weeks trapped a kilometre underground when the mine collapsed, killing one person.

On April 25, 2006, a 2.2 magnitude earthquake struck while the gold miners were attaching wire mesh to the side of a tunnel 925m below ground. Mr Russell and Mr Webb spent the next 321 hours trapped deep underground as Australia and the world waited until they were finally rescued.

Now the chief of the Beaconsfield Fire Brigade, Mr Russell, along with 40 other Tasmanian firefighters touched down at HMAS Albatross on Monday, ready for a seven-day stint in some of the state’s worst hit firegrounds.

On Tuesday, Mr Russell assisted NSW Rural Fire Service crews in the battle against the enormous blazes in the state’s south, many of which grew rapidly over the weekend, devouring homes and businesses right across the region and into Victoria.

Several homes and property along Lake Conjola’s Entrance Road have been destroyed by fire last week. Picture: David Swift.

Buildings destroyed by last week's bushfire on the Princes Highway in the main street of Cobargo. The town has lost between 50-60 homes. Picture: Jonathan Ng

NSW RFS spokesman Greg Allan said while the intensity of the major 300,000 hectare Currowan blaze has finally started to subside, the Tasmanian assistance was much needed, with conditions set to deteriorate again on Friday.

“Conditions right across the state are more favourable at the moment, while there is no immediate threat to properties, crews are working to strengthen containment lines, before that weather worsens on Friday,” he said.

“We’ve heard from the Bureau of Meteorology that Friday’s (fire danger) forecast could be ‘very high’ and ‘severe’ in parts as well.”

Firefighters manage a controlled burn to help contain a larger fire near Falls Creek on Sunday. Picture: AP Photo/Rick Rycroft.

Tasmanian Fire Service acting regional chief Ian Bounds said of the 41 volunteers, several left from Launceston while others left from Devonport, tasked with property and asset protection, and the important role of relieving local firefighters so they can rest.

“They’re going into quite volatile areas and safety will be paramount,” Mr Bounds said.

Firefighters work to control a small fire burning south of Eden over the weekend. Picture Gary Ramage.

“The conditions over there are quite devastating, it’s going to be confronting, there will be a number of support mechanisms in place to help our firefighters through this.”

Mr Bounds said relieving NSW crews so they could get some rest was “vital” to ongoing efforts to control the bushfires, saying his volunteers were “very capable” of the task.