Crews from Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Gippsland have answered the call to support our Canadian friends during the country’s devastating bushfires.
Ten arduous firefighters, including Lakes Entrance’s Angus McKenzie, departed last week for a month on the fire-line in British Columbia, joining seven Gippsland staff who are already in British Columbia and Alberta for a 35-day deployment.
The Gippsland FFMVic crew is among a total of 62 FFMVic personnel supporting the ongoing wildfire response, continuing a long-standing tradition of support between Victoria and Canada.
“FFMVic Gippsland staff bring extensive emergency management experience, taking on specialist roles including sector commander, strike team leader and air attack supervisor,” FFMVic Gippsland Deputy Chief Fire Officer Sam Quigley said.
“Our arduous firefighters are well-prepared to face the challenging and remote terrain of Canada, bringing specialist skills in tree-felling and dry firefighting techniques.
“These efforts involve hard work, dedication and a commitment to making a positive impact.
“While providing much-needed relief to our Canadian counterparts, these deployments also offer invaluable opportunities for FFMVic staff to expand their bushfire knowledge and
operational experience in different environments, allowing them to apply what they learn to manage large-scale bushfires at home.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our deployed staff and to their colleagues and loved ones who support them from home.”
In 2019-20, Canadian firefighters supported Victorian firefighting efforts, and since then, FFMVic staff have been part of multiple deployments to Canada over the past two fire seasons.
As Victoria prepares for the upcoming bushfire season, FFMVic is recruiting several hundred Project Firefighters to bolster their permanent firefighting staff.
These roles offer a valuable entry point into careers in environmental and emergency management. Some of FFMVic’s former Project Firefighters have gone on to support firefighting
efforts across Australia and internationally.
While applications closed on July 28, FFMVic is still accepting applications for locations with vacancies.
