28 November 2018
Victoria will send approximately 80 firefighters and incident management personnel to Queensland to help that State as it battles more than 80 fires with conditions expected to worsen.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) has requested assistance from partner states, and Victoria is sending personnel from Country Fire Authority and Forest Fire Management Victoria (which includes Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Parks Victoria).
Victorian personnel will fill Incident Management Teams and Strike Teams (firefighters) and are expected to be based in Brisbane and Mackay.Two Victorian Liaison and Safety Officers will be based at the State Disaster Coordination Centre. The majority of the team members are expected to fly out to Brisbane on Thursday.
Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said Victoria was well placed to help with relatively benign conditions in our State currently.
"The fire in Queensland, particularly the one at Deepwater, are having a large impact on communities and this is challenging for community members as well as firefighters on the ground," Mr Crisp said.
"Victorian firefighters and incident management personnel have a great depth of experience and skills and we are happy to assist where we can."
Mr Crisp said Victoria would consider what further assistance the State could provide as more becomes known.
NSW has already provided around 100 firefighters and aircraft. Other interstate assistance will be provided.
"Victoria continues to plan for our own summer fire season and despite the rain Victoria has experienced in some areas, we have large areas that are still very dry," he said.
"The fires Queensland is experiencing now is a reminder to our Victorian communities of what we could face over summer if the conditions escalate.
“As we look to assist our interstate colleagues, it's important for us as a State to continue to prepare for fire this summer, to understand local conditions and to know where to get information from as part of the planning you do with your family."
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.