NTFES send 17 members to help battle wildfires in Western Australia

Seventeen members of the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Service have been sent to Western Australia to help battle blazes south of Perth.

17 members of the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Service have been sent to Western Australia to assist with a number of wildfires burning south of Perth for more than a week. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Seventeen members of the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Service have been sent to Western Australia to help fight several wildfires.

The WA Government on Tuesday evening requested assistance from all jurisdictions to help fight the blazes, south of Perth.

NTFES sent for a large number of staff to depart Darwin on Thursday.

17 members of the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Service have been sent to Western Australia to assist with a number of wildfires burning south of Perth for more than a week. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Wildfires are currently burning in Shannon, Boorara-Gardner and D’Entrecasteaux National Parks near Windy Harbour, Boorara Brook and Meerup, with several watch and act warnings in place across southern WA.

The 17-strong team consists of volunteers and staff from NT Fire and Rescue Service and Bushfires NT, and they will form two strikes teams to assist with operations.

Acting deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter said NTFES staff were ready to assist the WA community. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Acting deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter said NTFES staff were ready to help.

“The group are very excited to be heading over to WA to support their colleagues and to serve the broader community,” he said.

“They are highly skilled and trained in wildfires … and they’ll take down some renewed energy to a tired workforce over there and a range of land management and fire fighting skills as well.

The 17 members were excited to assist their colleagues in WA. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Our thoughts are with those on the front line of this response and those residents impacted by the fires.”

It is important states assist each other in times of need, Mr Hunter said

“Australia is one large community and we support each other every year,” he said.

Acting deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter said it was important the Territory assist other jurisdictions. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NTFES on January 31 sent three firefighters to help fight the Grampian fires in Victoria, this masthead reported.

Originally published as NTFES send 17 members to help battle wildfires in Western Australia