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Reward for response
Edition 1169, June 28, 2007 |
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Well done: Brig Mal Rerden, at right, talks with IRR Detachment Commander WO2 Glenn Fitzsimmons and IRR members LCpl Aaron Pitstock, Cpl Liam Connolly, Spr David Carlisle and Spr Geoff Murphy.
Photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
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THE five IRR members attached to the Aviation Task Group in Timor-Leste have been recognised for containing a hazardous materials leak.
Commander Joint Task Force 631 Brig Mal Rerden presented a plaque to the IRR Tp on behalf of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Hazardous Material Section earlier this month.
The soldiers had responded to a request from the Timor-Leste Government on April 16 after a 20,000-litre pressurised cylinder of hydrochloric acid began leaking at Dili’s port.
Acid was spraying out, which caused a large cloud of toxic gas to form. The cloud posed a threat to people in a nearby refugee camp and the evacuation of the Dili CBD was seriously considered.
For the next four days, the IRR Tp kept a constant vigil on the container, repairing holes as they appeared while at the same time providing expert technical advice to Australian and Timorese Governments and civilian agencies.
With the assistance of three officers of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and Emergency Management Australia, the spill was contained and the acid neutralised. The site was handed back to local authorities on April 20.
Brig Rerden said the five soldiers showed great determination and flexibility and, without their specialist abilities and advice, the incident would have been dramatically larger. |
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