More than 50 Tasmanian fire personnel have crossed the Bass Strait to assist with Victoria’s bushfire emergency.
The deployment includes 51 people and 10 vehicles from the Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Crews have been sent to several major firegrounds, including the Mallee fire complex near Mildura, the Walwa fire complex near Tallangatta and the Otway fire complex near Colac.
Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said most Victorian fires were now in the mop-up stage.
He said emergency services there remained alert to changing conditions.
“… With the upcoming fire weather in Victoria, with significant heat and wind coming, they may get new starts which our people can then be redeployed to,” he said.
Lowe said the interstate deployment served a dual purpose.
“We send crews over and that’s reciprocated when we get busy, as we saw last year with the West Coast fires,” he said.
“But also, it’s a valuable time for our people to obtain skills and to work with other agencies, so that they can bring back that knowledge and those skills and apply it in their own state.”
The Victorian fires began on January 7, prompting a State of Disaster declaration across 18 local government areas.
More than 400,000 hectares have been burned, at least one person has died and more than 500 structures have been destroyed.
Around 20,000 livestock are also believed to have been killed.
Lowe said the situation was a timely reminder for Tasmanians to prepare for their own bushfire season.
“The best defence against a bushfire that threatens your community is being prepared, staying informed, and keeping up-to-date with information to keep safe,” he said.
“Know your risk, develop and practice bushfire plans, know how to access information and review the community bushfire protection plan for your area.”
