Twenty-six casual staff employed to boost Forestry Corporation firefighting numbers
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Forestry Corporation will again be employing seasonal fieldworkers to boost firefighting numbers, located around the Bathurst , Orange , Oberon and Lithgow areas.
Regional manager Dean Anderson said Forestry Corporation was in the process of looking for fit, capable people who are interested in an outdoor job.
“Twenty of these people will be part of our on-ground firefighting force. We also employ six fire tower operators.
“Most of these will return from last year, but we are looking for a new starter at Shooters Hill,” Mr Anderson said.
“First off the fieldworkers will receive intensive fire-fighting training including use of fire tankers, fire fighting slip-on units for vehicles, four-wheel-drives, chainsaws and first-aid.
“They will be trained and ready to respond at short notice to any fires that start in or near the plantations.”
Mr Anderson said that while not fighting fires, the majority of the casual firefighters’ time would be spent maintaining Forestry Corporation fire trails and removing weeds within the forest.
“These people gain valuable experience and skills over the summer with us, and later take these skills into the wider community and workforce,” he said.
“Four seasonal fieldworkers from recent years have gained full time employment with Forestry Corporation. One at Taree, one at Braidwood, and two locally.
“The additional staff will complement our permanent workforce who are highly skilled and experienced fire fighters.
“This fire fighting and fire spotting workforce combined with the organisation’s specialised fire fighting machinery and lightning detection technology will ensure Macquarie Region is well equipped to protect life, property and the State’s valuable softwood resource.”
Forestry Corporation 68 000 hectares of softwood plantation in the central tablelands supports approximately 940 people in the growing and manufacturing of timber.
Media contact: Claire Byrne on (02) 6331 2044.
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