Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority
The first contingent of firefighters from NSW has returned home following their much-appreciated support over the past few days helping CFA volunteers to protect Victorian communities.
The firefighters from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service operated in challenging fire conditions, undertaking property protection around the township of Yarck and strengthened containment lines on the Longwood fire.
“The conditions on Friday 9 January were absolutely horrific,” said NSW RFS Strike Team Leader Andrew MacDonald. “They were some of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen in more than 37 years, with wind speeds up to 80 kilometres per hour and temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees.”
After spending the day protecting properties in Yarck, 25 NSW firefighters were unable to return to their accommodation because roads were blocked by fallen trees and there were many hazardous trees that had the potential to fall.
However, the generosity and selfless spirit of the Victorian community once again shone through.
“We camped in town with no electricity, and were accommodated quite generously by the Yarck Hotel. One of our firefighters Nathan, who trained as a chef cooked up a magnificent meal for us all.”
Nathan, who is now a plumber, trained for two years as a chef.
“A local resident called the pub owner who was stuck in Alexandra and they told us where there was a key to the pub. They said we could use what we liked,” Nathan said.
“Three of us made meals for about 35 people. As we were in a pub, we made pub food – crumbed lamb cutlets, steak, pizzas, coleslaw. It was fantastic fun.
“The pub also became the central hub for our operations and for the remainder of locals.”
We met the pub owners the next day and thanked them for their hospitality. It was incredibly generous of them to let us use their pub.
Nathan and his colleagues were more than happy to work alongside CFA.
“We want to pitch in to help when we get the call,” Nathan said.
Another NSW strike team that had been fighting the Longwood fire at Molesworth also received incredible support from the locals, with a Molesworth resident inviting the crew to stay in their home.
CFA thanks these firefighters for their outstanding efforts as they worked alongside CFA volunteers.
Additional crews from NSW are being deployed to Victoria to help communities affected by ongoing fires.
Watch a video on Facebook of the NSW firefighters on the fireground.
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