NSW fires: Wonga Park, Montrose CFA volunteers rush to help
Volunteer firefighters from Melbourne’s east are dropping everything and rushing to help our neighbouring state as it faces catastrophic fire conditions.
Outer East
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As bushfires wreak havoc in NSW, compassionate volunteer firefighters from Melbourne’s east are rushing north to join the enormous firefighting effort.
More than a dozen CFA brigades across Manningham, Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah have all sent crews to NSW to join the battle against the more than 50 blazes tormenting the state.
Wonga Park CFA captain Adam Farr said two Wonga Park firefighters had taken the week off work and flew to NSW yesterday morning ahead of the “catastrophic conditions” forecasted for today.
“They’re giving up an income for the week,” he said.
One of the two volunteers was also off work up in NSW fighting bushfires two weeks ago.
Mr Farr said Victorian firefighters wanted to help out, knowing the devastation NSW was experiencing after the harrowing events of Black Saturday.
“We all can sympathise and empathise and feel for them,” he said.
“We’ve been there ourselves. We know what it’s like.”
Two Montrose firefighters also took time off work and travelled up to NSW yesterday morning, while the brigade deployed three firefighters to the NSW fires on October 24.
Montrose CFA Captain Rob Waters said firefighters tried to help neighbouring states whenever they could.
“It’s in our nature to be compassionate during tough times and to support the community — not just in Victoria but across the country,” he said.
Over the weekend firefighters from Mooroolbark, Mt Evelyn, Badger Creek, Wandin, Kallista, Olinda, South Belgrave and Belgrave Heights CFA brigades also flew to NSW to join the fight.
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Crews from Bayswater CFA and South Warrandyte have driven tankers up to support the firefighting efforts.
In total, more than 300 CFA members from across Victoria have responded to the NSW Rural Fire Service’s call for help this week, taking up 76 vehicles.
Mr Farr said while so many CFA members wanted to help, the number of volunteers sent away had to be shared among various brigades so that each one was still equipped to handle local emergencies, such as house fires and car accidents.
NSW is in the midst of a seven-day state of emergency, with several regions having been given a “catastrophic” fire rating today.
Three people have died and more than 150 properties have been destroyed.