Local NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) area manager Alex Deura has flown to Canada to help with the escalating wildfire emergency in British Columbia.
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Nowra-based Alex left Sydney was one of 34 NPWS specialist firefighters sent to join the international firefighting operation.
Shoalhaven Rural Fire Service district manager Superintendent Mark Williams and Shoalhaven deputy group captain Andrew Fielding and more recently Kangaroo Valley deputy captains David Smart and Peter Wilson flew out as part two NSW Rural Fire Service deployments to assist with the fire fighting.
NPWS South Coast Branch Director Kane Weeks said Alex is a very experienced firefighter who will no doubt make a significant contribution to the Canadian forces as they tackle this fire emergency.
“His role will be a divisional commander where he will be working in the rugged and remote terrain of British Columbia,” Mr Weeks said.
“Alex’s local experience will go a long way towards helping his colleagues in this wildfire emergency.
“We expect Alex and his NPWS colleagues to be away for around 40 days, undertaking two 14-day shifts with two rest days in between.
“The days will be long and hard and we are very proud that Alex is there representing the Service and the local community.”
The NPWS firefighters are deployed under the NSW cooperative firefighting arrangements, with NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and the Forestry Corporation of NSW.
British Columbia’s arrangement with Australia in sharing firefighting resources has been in place for over 15 years.
This agreement allows for the exchange of personnel, knowledge, skills, equipment, technology and mutual support in the event of an emergency.