Dunedin rural fire fighters deploying to Australia

Four rural fire officers from Dunedin are heading for Australia as part of the New Zealand contingent to assist at the Australian bush fires. Gareth Bowen, Tony Ludlow, Kevin Marsh and Craig Still will leave Dunedin for Australia to-day as part of a team brought together by the National Rural Fire Authority.

Although Dunedin is experiencing extreme fire conditions, it was determined that some members of the Dunedin Voluntary Rural Fire Force could be deployed without compromising the city's rural fire operational capability.

"While Dunedin has a fire ban in place over much of its area and is very dry, the Australians are in a far worse position and need our support" according to Principal Rural Fire Officer, Graeme Still. Although Mr Still led a larger Dunedin team to assist fighting fires in Victoria in December 2006, he was not prepared to leave Dunedin again during the present extreme local conditions.

Craig Still and Gareth Bowen were also in the team from Dunedin that went to Australia in 2006 and all four have a significant level of rural fire qualifications and operational experience. All have been pre-registered for national or international deployment and have passed fitness and medical tests.

The New Zealand team is expected to be in Australia for at least two weeks. "We are extremely grateful to the employers of these volunteer rural fire fighters for so readily allowing them to be away from work for this deployment" said Mr Still.

Contact details

Contact Graeme Still - Principal Rural Fire Officer on 474 3115 or 0274 456 704.

Last reviewed: 13 Feb 2009 10:17am