A joint-agency fire training day to be held tomorrow, Wednesday 30 November, at the Delegate Country Club will help prepare the Monaro Region for the season ahead. 

Forests NSW Resource Protection and Infrastructure manager and coordinator of the day, Jason Vincent, said up to 90 participants from Forests NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Parks Victoria were expected to attend.

Mr Vincent said every bushfire season has the potential to greatly harm the community.

“These fire training days are a yearly event to focus resources on safety and community protection,” he said.

“Close relations between fire control personnel in the Bombala, Delegate and Bendoc areas continues to be a very important part of protecting the interests of the people in region.  

“During the past few months, Forests NSW has been working closely with other fire fighting agencies to refresh its regional fire management capabilities.

“Forests NSW has taken an active role to integrate its fire resources with NSW RFS, NPWS, CFA, Parks Victoria and Victorian DSE.”

Mr Vincent said the Eastern Cross Border Fire Management Committee formed a solid foundation to integrate resources and training to help protect the region.

“The joint-agency day will give participants the opportunity to learn more about fire weather, asset protection, radio communication on the fire-ground and fire suppression techniques,” he said.

On Thursday 1 December, Forests NSW will also be holding its annual fire training day for approximately 40 staff in Coolangubra State Forest near Bombala.

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

Tim McGuffog and Cameron Wade from Forests NSW Fire Branch in Sydney will be running the training day. As well, NSW RFS, NPWS and NSW Ambulance Service will be helping to run numerous "mock‟ fire scenarios to be undertaken on the day.

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

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

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