Minister visits and thanks local Albury volunteer firefighters
16th October 2009Ministerial media release
Minister for Emergency Services Steve Whan today visited and thanked local NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members for their extraordinary efforts during the last fire season.
Mr Whan said that given the current weather forecast for the summer ahead, the RFS Southern Border Team may be called upon to help not only their own community but also communities elsewhere in NSW and Victoria.
"During the tragedy of the Victorian fires of 2009 the Southern Border Team managed the North Albury Staging Area, a key part of the NSW Emergency Services deployment," Mr Whan said.
"From Monday 16 February to Thursday 5 March 2009 the North Albury Staging Area processed 1433 personnel and 463 vehicles, providing essential fuel, food and repairs.
"In addition to this the Southern Border Team also provided firefighting crews over a number of days in February to assist their colleagues in Victoria.
"This extraordinary commitment of the Southern Border Team resulted in a total of 4945 hours worked by personnel and is truly worth of thanks and recognition," said Mr Whan.
With predictions indicating that NSW could experience a more severe fire season than it has seen in a number of years Mr Whan said the contribution of the RFS volunteers could not be underestimated.
"Every day in towns and villages across NSW, the volunteers of the RFS work to protect the communities they are a part of and for this we owe them a debt of gratitude," he said.
"It is vital with the current outlook for the summer that all residents prepare their properties and a Bush Fire Survival Plan.
"Residents should visit the RFS website for more information on how they can prepare their Bush Fire Survival Plan and what steps they should be taking now that we have entered the Bush Fire Danger Period," said Mr Whan.
For more information on preparing their properties and developing a Bush Fire Survival Plan residents should visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
Minister visits and thanks local Albury volunteer firefighters (PDF 32KB)