NSW: Interstate fire crews to boost numbers to 15,000 by weekend

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2001
NSW: Interstate fire crews to boost numbers to 15,000 by weekend

SYDNEY, Dec 28 AAP - Interstate firefighters will boost the number of crews battling
NSW bushfires to 15,000 as the state heads into a predicted blistering weekend, the NSW
Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.

Around 100 tankers and 500 firefighters from Victoria, Queensland and South Australia
were expected to hit the ground in NSW over the weekend, RFS public affairs director John
Winter said.

"Quite clearly 100 vehicles equates to more than 500 firefighters being required,"

Mr Winter said.

The interstate help comes ahead of what is predicted to be a horror weekend weather-wise
in NSW with forecasters tipping temperatures of up to 39 degrees celsius and more strong
winds.

Tomorrow, 300 firefighters from the South Australian metropolitan and country fire
services will travel to NSW along with 25 fire trucks.

Queensland has also pledged its services with 130 crew and 20 pumper trucks expected
to travel south by the weekend.

Another 60 tankers from Victoria will make the journey north to assist their NSW counterparts.

Crews from the Victorian Country Fire Authority have also been fighting blazes in the
ACT over the past few days.

Victorian crews have been battling the NSW fires for days now, with the first tankers
and firefighters crossing the border on Christmas night, followed by a further 140 on
Boxing Day.

The RFS has also fielded offers for help from the federal government, with Prime Minister
John Howard making military personnel available.

Navy helicopters have already been deployed to help with spot fires and evacuations.

US fire authorities are also willing to send fire crews to Australia if necessary.

The US suffered its worst fire season in 50 years last year and flew in 80 Australian
and New Zealand firefighters to help battle the wildfires which scorched large patches
of Oregon, Arizona and eight other US states.

Mr Winter said with the help from interstate fire authorities around 5,000 firefighters
could be on the front line at any one time.

But the total numbers working were much greater.

"There's up to 15,000 firefighters involved as we repeat people through duty rosters,"

Mr Winter said.

As well as fighting the fires at ground level, fire authorities were dousing the flames
by air, he said.

"Some 55 aircrews are expected to be in the air today fulfilling a number of roles
including water bombing and observation," Mr Winter said.

AAP rhp/arb/gl/de i

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW CREWS

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