NT Fire and Rescue Services deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter leads Australia’s deployment to Canada
“Absolutely proud,” is how the deputy chief fire officer of the NT Fire and Rescue Service described his feelings ahead of his deployment to Canada, where he will lead Australia’s crews to help combat nearly 300 blazes. Find out what else he has to say.
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It may have only been a couple of years since he was last deployed to Canada, but Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service deputy chief fire officer Stephen Hunter says he is now ready for round two.
Mr Hunter will lead the deployment from this week.
He has been appointed as Australia’s international liaison officer, joining more than 200 Australian and New Zealand firefighters who are already stationed there.
His deployment follows an early and intense start to Canada’s wildfire season, with 296 active fires burning across the country.
In his role, Mr Hunter will actively communicate with the Canadian’s about what they need, how they can be supported, and where the Australian contingents can be of service.
The deputy chief fire officer said representing and leading Australia in the deployment was an “absolutely proud” moment in his more than 20 year career.
Mr Hunter said he learned a lot from his first Canadian deployment in 2023 – when he worked as part of the incident management team in Alberta – including the differences between how the Canadian and Australian fire crews operate.
“In Australia, we use lots of firetrucks and ground crews, whereas in Canada they use lots of helicopters to get people around in, as well as a lot of different types of vehicles to help them move around their terrain,” he said.
“What I can take from that and apply this time is using that knowledge of the way they work and the tactics and strategies they’re using.”
Mr Hunter said the deployment of these troops reinforced Australia’s stance as a global collaborator.
“It is very much an international effort, and that’s the way it’s going to be in the future, so we build on that every year,” he said.
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