Two fire training days to be held in Green Hills State Forest near Laurel Hill on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 of December will help prepare Forests NSW staff in the Hume Region for the coming season.  

Forests NSW Protection coordinator, Rod Baker, said that almost 100 staff from across the region, which covers Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba, will be involved in the annual fire training days.

“These fire training days ensure Forests NSW is focussed on fire fighter and community safety and asset protection,” he said.  

“Good rain during the past year had led to substantial seasonal growth, which when it dries out, may pose a high fire risk.”  

Mr Baker said this year Forests NSW staff would be joined by fire fighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure the two agencies could work together effectively and efficiently. 

Forests NSW is conducted training days across the State with days already held at Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Wauchope, Baradine, Maitland, Bathurst, Narrandera, Narooma and. Bombala.  

Forests NSW fire training coordinator Cameron Wade, who is based in Sydney, will be in charge of the Hume region’s training days.  

Mr Wade said as one of the four fire authorities in the State, Forests NSW was ensuring its fire fighters were properly prepared for the coming season.  

“We have designed training scenarios to test skills in command and control, communications and team work,” he said.  

“Pumping water, search and rescue, public information, fire-over-run drills and dangerous tree treatment are some of the subjects being dealt with on the day.”  

No fires will be lit on the training days. 

“The sessions are part of a continual training program Forests NSW employees undertake throughout the year in preparation for the fire season,” Mr Wade said.

Photos will be available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Sarah Chester (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669