Southern Border Group's Federation zone captain Greyd'n Davis said ordinary people doing extraordinary things was Aussie spirit at its finest.
“It has been a fantastic effort and commitment from the volunteers of the NSW Rural Fire Service Federation zone to take time off work and away from family and loved ones to go and help those that are in great need in the terrible fires up north,” Mr Davis said.
“I’d also like to thank the employers of the volunteers that have given their employees time away to help; without that sort of support volunteer organisations like the RFS and SES and CFA struggle to do what we need to do.”
The strike teams were in Tenterfield and Glenn Innes in late September and by mid-October the focus was shifted to the north coast, which is still burning today.
Worsening weather conditions caused a need for more resources in the Sydney basin and a strike team in Grafton had to extended their deployment.
“They helped out with property and asset protection around the area, which they carried out with great success,” Mr Davis said.
“The losses would have been a lot greater in that area if not for their and many other RFS volunteer efforts.”
Another team of Federation zone members was sent to relieve the Grafton strike team and strengthen containment lines of fires in the region.
