posted on February 15, 2009 19:56
MORE than 50 New Zealand firefighters have been warmly welcomed in Victoria after arriving to help in the aftermath of Australia's deadliest bushfires.
The 51 national rural fire officers, five firefighters from the New Zealand Defence Force and four police victim recovery dogs and their handlers flew to Victoria on Friday.
They will help fight the Victoria fires, which have claimed at least 181 lives, destroyed 1,834 homes and burned 413,000ha.
New Zealand information officer Alan Thompson said the team had been warmly welcomed in Victoria.
"We've had a really great welcome here and people stop and toot and wave when they see the Kiwis. They want to come up and shake our hands, so we've had just a terrific reception," Thompson said.
The team had been busy getting their equipment sorted out over the weekend and was due to start work tomorrow.
"We're itching to get on with the job. We've been here for a couple of days and there is a lot of preparation to get done to be ready. We simply want to get out there and do what we're good at doing.
"Everyone's very keen to step up and do our best, and we're looking forward to the challenges ahead," Thompson said.
The New Zealand firefighters have been assigned to a fire northeast of Melbourne at Woori Yallek, close to Healesville and Marysville in the Yarra Valley area.
Two air operations specialists have been assigned to air bases at remote airports.
The team will travel up either late Sunday or early Monday morning to start work in the high country, where significant fires threaten the Melbourne water supply reservoirs.
Thompson said the New Zealand firefighters were chosen because of their considerable hill country experience.
"We'll be part of a huge team that's already there, including thousands of firefighters from Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. A team of 60 United States firefighters has also arrived today, so we'll have a real multi-national force to build up the resources there," Thompson said.
The firefighters and other team members are to spend about three weeks in Victoria, helping fight fires and find and identify bodies.
Article from: Australian Associated Press
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