Big Medicine

Brisbane QLD--The last of Queensland’s rural firefighters who have been assisting with the New South Wales bushfire emergency have returned home today.

The 35 rural firefighters, plus liaison officers and administration staff were part of the second deployment of Queensland fire crews in the past fortnight to assist in the New South Wales emergency.

They were deployed to around Armidale and Aberdeen in the north of the state.

Yesterday 34 rural firefighters from north coast and south western regions returned home after assisting NSW firefighters around Liston.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said a total of 149 Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) personnel had been deployed to New South Wales during the past two weeks.

“We are incredibly proud of our rural fire volunteers who have helped out our neighbours in need,” he said.

“The firefighting community is like a family with New South Wales crews coming to Queensland’s assistance just a few months ago at the peak of our bushfire activity, and we were more than willing to return the favour."

QFRS Acting Commissioner Iain MacKenzie said Queensland crews worked closely with their interstate counterparts to provide extra reinforcement.

“The Queensland teams were involved in bushfire mitigation operations including backburning and establishing containment lines to minimise the spread of fire in northern New South Wales,” he said.

“At this stage there have been no further requests to send replacement crews to New South Wales but QFRS is always ready to help our fellow interstate crews wherever possible.”