Kiwi crew joins the fight in Tasmania’s bushfire emergency

When the chips are down, you help a neighbour out — that’s the ethos of New Zealand firefighters sent to Tasmania to help contain the fires burning across the state.

New Zealand remote area fire fighters at Geeveston yesterday. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

WHEN the chips are down, you help a neighbour out — that’s the ethos of a group of New Zealand firefighters sent to Tasmania to help contain the fires burning across the state.

A group of 28 remote access firefighters and Incident Management Team personnel in air operations, planning, intelligence and logistics touched down in Hobart on January 25 to do battle with the two major blazes engulfing parts of the state.

Part of the team is assisting Tasmania Fire Service crews at the Great Pine Tier fire in the Central Highlands, while 11 fire personnel also work to contain the Riveaux Rd blaze in the state’s south.

The Kiwi fireys and the state’s forestry agency discussed plans for fighting the 60,000ha fire near Geeveston.

New Zealand remote area firefighter Kieran Sullivan at Geeveston. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

New Zealand fire operations crew leader Kieran Sullivan said his crew was assessing areas of fire-threatened wilderness best suited to land a chopper to get in deep to the blaze.

“We found a way to get in by aircraft, but the problem was getting out,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We flew up and assessed where we could access the fire, safety zones, escape routes and how we could get enough equipment and personnel in to tackle those rugged spots.”

“But we encountered some really smoky conditions, steep terrain, and a lot of tall trees.”

He said putting the safety of his crew first was a priority.

The New Zealand firefighter squad was also joined by a pair of Canadian fireys, who Mr Sullivan said brought another area of skill to the group.

“We definitely all have different skill sets. The Canadian guys within the group are used to the really remote work and some of our guys are better at running trucks, tankers and chainsaws,” he said.

Peter Wass from Sustainable Timber Tasmania, left, and New Zealand remote area firefighter Kieran Sullivan return from a spotting flight yesterday. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Sullivan, whose dad Mike was also deployed to fight the southern fire, said the group of Kiwi fireys enjoyed the fellowships formed at the fire line.

“We get along well working with the Tassie guys. It does work like a brotherhood, and coming from a forestry background and working with the Sustainable Timber Tasmania crew, we just gel together very well,” Mr Sullivan said.

Co-crew leader Hayden Pearson said the New Zealand crew had been warmly welcomed by many Tasmanians since arriving.

“We have been offered many beers at the pub while we’re there having dinner, but obviously we’re running a dry camp at the moment and keeping our eyes on the job,” he said.