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Above:
Cpl
Steve Hodge refuells a CFA field bladder while Pte Jason
Ashurst controls the pump as part of Army assistance to
firefighters in north-east Victoria. Photos by Sgt Dave
Grant, PACC-Vic
Below:
Spr Terry Jimmieson, left, and Spr Kit Turner, 2CER, constructing
fire breaks at Mitta Mitta in north-east Victoria.
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Reservists
into action
By
Peter Johnson
HUNDREDS of Army personnel, mainly Reservists, have contributed
to the massive effort to combat bushfires that have burnt more than
1 million hectares of Victorian parks and forests.
About
70 engineers left Melbourne for Myrtleford on January 20 to support
civilian firefighters tackling bushfires in the Mount Beauty and
Mount Buffalo areas of northeast Victoria.
Since
then, three rotations of personnel have occurred, with a fourth
rotation anticipated.
The
command element passed from 22 Const Regt to 4CER, then to 4/19
PWLHR.
The
Army’s firefighting support teams operating throughout the
northeast moved from their staging area at Myrtleford to a new location
at Tallangatta.
The
bushfires started burning into Gippsland, making the establishment
of a staging area in that region increasingly likely.
Most
of the personnel supporting the civilian firefighting effort co-ordinated
by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and
the Country Fire Authority (CFA), were released by their civilian
employers to help out.
Members
of the contingent were asked to volunteer for the task at not much
more than 24 hours notice.
Defence
support was provided at the request of Victorian State authorities,
and has been enthusiastically received by firefighters battling
the blazes that have burnt 1.14 million hectares so far.
The
Army personnel have used a range of earthmoving equipment, hand
tools, chainsaws and muscle power to cut firebreaks, clear the area
around Telstra towers north of Yackandandah, and mix and load fire
retardant chemicals for aerial dumping (120 loads in 10 hours on
one occasion).
They
have battled dust, heat and smoke, with many recently returning
to their civilian jobs across the state. The aim has been to free
assets to be used at the fire front, and to protect property.
In
addition to the engineers, forward repair teams provided support
for mechanical equipment, a topographical detachment provided maps
and other data. Signallers provided communications support and refuelling
teams fuelled civilian and military plant and CFA vehicles.
In
addition to that commitment, medics worked with civil ambulance
on first aid tasks along with a range of other personnel working
on rear detail support functions.
During
the latest operations, Army assets completed 16km of fallback lines
around Eskdale with another 30km still to be constructed.
Corporate
Services and Infrastructure – Southern Victoria played an important
part – through JOSS-V – in all VicPol liaison, vetting,
processing all DACC applications, setting up and managing staging
areas and providing all reporting to HQAST.
At
present more than 120 Army personnel are committed to firefighting
support tasks in Victoria.
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