Fire & Rescue NSW ready to assist with bushfires
Published: 11th January 2013
Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters are again on high alert today to assist the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), with temperatures set to soar, increasing the risk of bushfires.
In recent days, FRNSW firefighters have assisted at major bushfires throughout NSW, with more than a dozen strike teams deployed across the state on Tuesday 8 January.
At the request of the NSW RFS, 22 fire engines formed into five “Strike Teams”, which have today been deployed in the regional areas of Albury, Yass, Wagga Wagga, Queanbeyan and Nowra – a commitment of 93 firefighters, in addition to firefighters based at FRNSW stations in those areas.
Six Strike Teams have been also deployed to stand by in the urban fringe areas of Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong, made up of 24 fire engines and 90 firefighters. In all, there are 170 fire crews and 700 personnel ready to respond in those areas today.
FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said FRNSW works seamlessly the RFS, National Parks and State Forests during bushfire situations.
“Firefighters across the state have been working around the clock to contain bushfires still burning, and to respond quickly to new outbreaks.
“In addition to the 11 Strike Teams deployed this morning, we have 3000 firefighters on standby across the state with 450 fire engines ready to roll out the door immediately when a call is received.”
FRNSW’s 600 Community Fire Units are also on high alert with 6000 volunteers on standby.
FRNSW has been very busy in the last 24 hours, responding to a number of incidents including a major fire in a cinema complex last night and fire in a hotel in the Sydney CBD this morning.