NSW RFS volunteers sent to join Snowy Valley fire-fighting efforts
Published Date: 09 Jan 2020
Summary
Five more families in Orange will likely be on edge this week.
View the Central Western Daily story
Their mum, dads, husbands and sons were deployed as volunteer fire fighters to Wagga Wagga on Thursday, to swap out a similar-sized strike team attempting to manage the Batlow fire.
For the past three months volunteers from Orange, Blayney and Cabonne have been on a constant rotation, sent across the state to assist where needed.
NSW RFS strike team Rod Elphick, Mark Smee, Joe Fuller, Katrina Smith and Noah Lamrock, Photo: ALEX CROWE
Deputy Group Officer Katrina Smith said the NSW RFS Canobolas Zone will just receive the message from regions in need "we require assistance".
"We don't really know what it'll be until we get there," she said.
Crews have been sent north, south and west, either for a 12-16 hour day up and back or a five-day stint, which includes three-days of unpaid firefighting work.
Setting off to lead the latest cohort, which includes a construction worker, an IT worker and a recent high-school graduate, Mrs Smith said slipping away from her printing business and family for five days is not without its challengers.
"My daughter told me this morning 'you don't have to go if you don't want to mummy'," she said.
Mark Smee said it's a "double-edge sword" for loved-ones.
"If they're not in the service they worry because they don't understand, if they are in the service they worry because they know," he said.
On Thursday the five from Orange bussed down to Cowra where they picked up another two volunteers and then made their way to Wagga where they will be assigned day or night shift.
Night shift will be a 6pm to 6am day, probably back-burning in the hope of avoiding catastrophe as the weather heats up again.
Day shift will be a 8am to 8pm shift, monitoring the containment lines around the 313,000 hectare Snowy Valley fire.
Mrs Smith said for her motivation for continuing to put her hand up to volunteer is "helping out your mates".
"If the others are going out and you're not, you feel a bit guilty," she said.
District Administration Officer Jenifer Bucknell briefs Rod Elphick, Mark Smee, Joe Fuller, Katrina Smith and Noah Lamrock. Photo: ALEX CROWE
"It's also a great learning experience."
Mr Smee said he's representing the farmers in his RFS branch who wish they could help, but are struggling to keep their stocks fed over summer.
"It makes them feel better to know they're being represented by someone from their brigade," he said.
"The thing is we're better resourced, better trained and better than ever, but this is a once-in-history fire."
