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NSW firefighters to provide relief in Qld
Exhausted crews get needed assistance.
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
19/10/2009
NSW firefighters to provide relief in Qld
More than 60 men and women from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service will travel to Queensland tonight to provide relief and assistance for Queensland firefighters.
Premier Anna Bligh said it is anticipated the team, primarily from the Sydney basin, will be in Queensland for about a week, with their initial focus on providing support in the areas surrounding Rockhampton and Bundaberg.
"Queensland firefighters have spent many long days on the ground, fighting bushfires in several different regions for the past four weeks," Ms Bligh said.
"They have been doing a great job, but unfortunately bushfires throughout much of the state continue to burn and our personnel need a chance to rest and recuperate.
"The New South Wales contingent arriving tonight will provide some much needed relief and we thank them for their willingness to lend a hand."
Ms Bligh said many of the men and women from NSW worked alongside Queensland firefighters who provided assistance during the devastating bushfires in Victoria earlier this year.
"The firefighting fraternity is a close one and Queensland and New South Wales firefighters often work together along the border," she said.
"However, this is the single biggest contingent deployed into Queensland and we are very grateful for this support.
"New South Wales communities on the north and south coasts are battling their own fires, but fortunately conditions are easing at Grafton and Sydney firefighters are able to lend a hand here in Queensland.
"We look forward to working with them and hope we can return the favour in the future."
The New South Wales contingent of 67 personnel will be split in two groups, each with 25 firefighters, a response team co-ordinator and deputy co-ordinator, four Special Operations paramedics and Special Operations team leader. An interstate liaison officer also arrived in Brisbane yesterday and a further support liaison officer arrived today to assist at the State Operations Command Centre.
Ms Bligh said fire predictions and weather forecasts for the coming week had prompted fire bans to be extended until midnight Monday, October 26.
"A total ban on all fires, including permit fires, will remain in place for the coming week in almost 30 local government areas.
"These bans are in effect as a precaution, as under the current weather conditions in these areas, fires can threaten suddenly and without warning.
"Residents are reminded that we are in the middle of an intense bushfire season and there is a need to remain vigilant and exercise caution."
Local fire bans are being imposed in Toowoomba, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Paroo, Balonne, Goondiwindi, Maranoa, Murweh, Banana, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Isaac, Mackay, Hinchinbrook, Townsville, Burdekin, Whitsunday, Charters Towers, Flinders, Palm Island, Richmond, North Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, South Burnett, Gympie, Cherbourg, Bundaberg, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich City, Scenic Rim, Logan City, Gold Coast, Brisbane City, Redland City and Moreton Bay.
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