More than 20 Forestry Corporation of NSW forest firefighters converged on Bombala over two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25, for pre-season fire preparation training.
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Forestry Corporation of NSW's Fire Management officer Cameron Wade said these pre-season preparation training events being held throughout the State were important to ensure staff were prepared for this summer.
"All of our preparations from hazard reduction burning in State forests to pre-season training events are a reminder we're taking no chances in gearing up for this summer,” Mr Wade said.
"This fire preparation training event in Bombala brought Forestry Corporation’s seasonal firefighters as well as fulltime staff together in one place to share and test their firefighting knowledge and skills.
"Our forest firefighters play an important role in managing, preventing and fighting fires in regional communities and State forests and we need to be confident they are fully prepared through training scenarios, and also, fit and able to manage the physical pressures of the fire line.
“Forestry Corporation invests heavily in training and retaining firefighting staff and equipment, upgrading roads for rapid access to forests and building and staffing fire towers to aid rapid fire detection and quick response.”
During the training, Forestry Corporation fire fighters travelled to the East Gippsland town of Bonang on November 24 to train with fire crews from government agencies in Victoria and NSW, and update skills related to fire extinguisher use and safety, radio communications, pump operation as well as engage in scenarios including vehicle accident responses.
More than 80 firefighters, representing Forestry Corporation of NSW, Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Rural Fire Service, Victoria’s industry brigades from Snowy Mountain Forests and South East Fibre Exports attended the training at Bonang.
Forestry Corporation’s Bombala-based Silviculture and Fire Coordinator, Jason Vincent said the joint agency training was important for sharing knowledge and skills.
“A strong working relationship with other fire agencies from both sides of the border is critical to ensure a coordinated firefighting effort," Mr Vincent said.