NZ firefighters return home
By Marcus Timothy,WNS Auckland Correspondent
AUCKLAND - A crew of New Zealand firefighters are returning to Auckland and Christchurch after helping battle bush fires in Victoria. All but one of the 48 crew is coming back, leaving behind a colleague who is still receiving treatment in Melbourne for smoke inhalation and burns. He is expected to come home on Wednesday. The New Zealanders have spent two weeks backing up Victorian firefightingcrews in the state's north-east. Eleven of the Kiwis that went to Australia were injured as a fire front turned unexpectedly onto them near Mansfield last weekend. Some of the men were forced to seek refuge in a ditch, and their faces and hands were scorched as fire raced over them.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) acting chief fire officer Tony Edgar said the Kiwi firefighters made an invaluable contribution to firefighting efforts. "They have assisted in protecting Victorian communities, working alongside DSE and CFA crews," Edgar said."The efforts of the New Zealand contingent have been greatly appreciated."We'd like to thank the firefighters, as well as their families and the New Zealand National Fire Authority, for their help and support during this difficult fire campaign."
posted by wnsworld @ 5:24 PM
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