Tasmanian firefighters return from Queensland blaze duty

Firefighters and specialist fire personnel have returned to Tasmania after helping battle the Queensland bushfires.

Fire fighter Sarah Castle arrives back in Hobart after helping with the management of bushfires in Queensland. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

FIREFIGHTERS and specialist fire personnel have returned to Tasmania after helping battle the Queensland bushfires.

More than 50 people from the State Emergency Service, Tasmania Fire Service, and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service touched down in either Hobart or Devonport on Wednesday after working with other interstate crews to manage more than 100 fires burning across Queensland.

Dodges Ferry leading firefighter Sarah Castle, who was deployed to North Stradbroke Island as part of a frontline strike team, described the mission as “challenging”.

“The temperature and humidity is something we don’t get here in Tasmania regularly,” she said. “When we arrived at Brisbane airport the city was covered in smoke and the heat hit you in the face. During our deployment, the Stradbroke Island fire reached emergency levels and when we left that was dropped down to advice, so we definitely made some headway.”

Some of the Tasmanian Fire Service personnel on their arrival back in Hobart. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Tasmanian crews were farewelled at Brisbane Airport by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner Andrew Short.

TFS deputy chief officer Bruce Byatt said the expertise and knowledge of Tasmanian personnel was welcomed by Queensland crews.

“There is no doubt that everyone will have unique stories of their experience to share and there will be opportunities for all of us, across agencies, to learn,” he said.

Another 25 Tasmanian firies left for Queensland on Wednesday and are expected to return at the weekend.