Tenant Creek fires spark deployment from the CFS
12/09/2023
The SA Country Fire Service is sending volunteer firefighters and a fleet of vehicles to the Northern Territory from tomorrow to assist Bushfires NT with the worsening bushfire situation in the Barkly Region, near Tenant Creek.
The Northern Territory is currently experiencing multiple fires, including a large fire burning in the Barkly Region, covering an area of approximately 400,000 hectares in size, or three times the size of the ACT, according to NT emergency services.
A team of 20 South Australian firefighting specialists including two strike teams of volunteer firefighters, a Field Liaison Officer, Strike Team/Divisional Commander, a Jurisdiction Liaison Officer and a Special Operations Paramedic from the SA Ambulance Service will fly to Alice Springs tomorrow.
A fleet of seven vehicles from the Mid North and Mount Lofty Ranges are already en route and include six trucks and a command car.
CFS Executive Director of Operations, Brenton Hastie, said this is our first deployment in the Northern Territory since 2011, and a difficult one.
"This is the first deployment for the season within Australia, so when we received the formal request to assist Bushfires NT, we were willing to help by sending a team of skilled and experienced firefighters," Mr Hastie said.
"Many of the personnel flying to the Northern Territory today have been involved in deployments interstate previously," he said.
"The Northern Territory has already faced a challenging season with double the number of fires in May and 136 more grassfires to the end of August, so the CFS is pleased to be able to help support Bushfires NT and their communities."
"These fires threaten vast areas of bushland, pastoral properties and highways, with the growing 400,000 hectare fire having the potential to impact the town of Tennant Creek."
The planned operation will see CFS personnel assist our northern neighbours with two rotations of staff and volunteers deployed each week for the next two weeks.
VISION OPPORTUNITY: Media are invited to attend the Adelaide Airport near the domestic check-in on Wednesday at 9:40am, to film the departing personnel and interview Executive Director of Operations, Brenton Hastie.
