Loddon Mallee locals have answered the call to support our Canadian friends during that country’s devastating bushfires.

Five arduous firefighters from Loddon Mallee departed on Friday for a month on the fireline in British Columbia.

These individuals from Loddon Mallee region are among a total 62 Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) personnel supporting the ongoing wildfire response, continuing a long-standing tradition between Victoria and Canada.

“FFMVic staff bring extensive emergency management experience taking on specialist roles including International Liaison Officer, Air Operations Manager, liaison and planning officers, Air Base Manager, Air Attack Supervisor and Strike Team Leaders,” FFMVic Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Amy Groch said.

“Our arduous firefighters are well-prepared to face the challenging and remote terrain of Canada, bringing specialist skills in tree-felling and dry firefighting techniques.

“These efforts involve hard work, dedication and a commitment to making a positive impact.

“While providing much needed relief to our Canadian counterparts, these deployments also offer invaluable opportunities for FFMVic staff to expand their bushfire knowledge and operational experience in different environments, allowing them to apply what they learn to manage large-scale bushfires at home.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our deployed staff and to their colleagues and loved ones who support them from home.”

In 2019-20, Canadian firefighters supported Victorian firefighting efforts, and since then, FFMVic staff have been part of multiple deployments to Canada over the past two fire seasons.

As Victoria prepares for the upcoming bushfire season, FFMVic is recruiting several hundred Project Firefighters to bolster their permanent firefighting staff.

These roles offer a valuable entry point into careers in environmental and emergency management. Some of FFMVic’s former Project Firefighters have gone on to support firefighting efforts across Australia and internationally.

While applications closed on 28 July, FFMVic is still accepting applications for locations with vacancies. For more information, visit: https://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/pff

This article appeared in  The Buloke Times, 6 August 2024.