Forest Products Industry

Forestry Corporation firefighters are gearing up for the summer bushfire season in the New South Wales pine plantations. With the onset of warmer conditions solid fuel fire bans have been introduced in key pine growing regions in the Riverina and Central West. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation firefighters are currently preparing for summer with a series of fire camps across the state allowing staff to train and upskill on new and existing fireground equipment and appliances. “As a firefighting authority, Forestry Corporation takes firefighting seriously, we have a commitment to ensure we keep our people, our communities and our estates safe,” Bathurst-based Stewardship and Fire Supervisor Dave Anderson said. “We hold three fire camps each year in different locations across NSW to train new staff towards their initial certification and to advance our current staff,” he said. Fire camps are week-long, intensive training sessions that prepare staff and train new staff for the upcoming fire season. A recent fire camp in Wallerawang was attended by more than 40 people and eight staff members who trained, assessed and mentored the team. Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert said Forestry Corporation currently has trained firefighters across the state rostered on to respond to state forest fires across NSW. “Our staff are trained in forest firefighting and work really closely with the other agencies to respond to fires when they occur,” Ms Talbert said. Our statewide fleet includes fire appliances, pieces of heavy plant machinery, contracted aircraft and over a hundred drones and trained pilots,” Ms Talbert said. “Our fleet of fire tankers and light vehicles fitted with fire-fighting gear and heavy plant like bulldozers, which is used in forest operations in state forests, are also made available by the broader forest industry to fight fires in NSW.” Currently a major multi-year program is underway to upgrade Forestry Corporation’s firefighting fleet and improve safety for our firefighters. In response to a recommendation of the Independent Bushfire Inquiry, burn-over Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) protection systems are being retrofitted to all existing light firefighting fleet and installed standard on new vehicles. In addition, new fire tankers are being purchased to replace ageing vehicles. “As a statutory firefighting authority managing two million hectares of land and supporting community firefighting efforts across the landscape, it is vital that we maintain safe and efficient fleet and equipment and investments in our fleet will further enhance efforts made in recent years to improve the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of our fleet,” Ms Talbert said. To find out more about Forestry Corporation firefighting visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au