More SC firefighters off to help

Two South Canterbury firefighters are part of a 21-strong team deployed yesterday to help fight wildfires in New South Wales.

Geraldine-based Department of Conservation rangers and qualified firefighters Brad Edwards and Shane Pemberton-Reid are both experienced hands, having previously undertaken firefighting missions overseas, but are treating their next mission with ‘‘trepidation’’.

‘‘We are moving into an environment where we are going to see the most extreme fire behaviour of our lives,’’ Edwards, said from Auckland Airport yesterday.

It is his fourth deployment overseas, having fought fires in Victoria and Tasmania between 2008 and 2019.

‘‘The issues this time are that the fuel is super dry and there is super low humidity,’’ he said.

Both men will fight fires on the front line for two weeks.

The contingent they fly out of Auckland with is made up of five four-person crews and a team leader.

It is Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s (Fenz) second full deployment for 2020.

Edwards said he was contacted a couple of weeks ago about joining the mission and said there was a ‘‘shortlist of people who are capable of doing this job’’.

The group flew to Sydney where they were to receive another briefing before flying on to Canberra to fight fires from this morning, he said.

‘‘It’s fair to say everyone is pretty enthusiastic because we want to make a contribution and help out.

‘‘There is trepidation, however. To be honest, it’s a good thing.

‘‘The golden rule in Aussie is to look up because of falling tree and fire behaviour on the ground.’’

Edwards said prior experience of fighting wildfires in Australia was of benefit to frontline Kiwi staff, as similar fires were becoming more commonplace in New Zealand.

‘‘In some ways it is lucky that we have seen fire conditions such as these that are starting to become more apparent in New Zealand.

‘‘It prepares us for the fires we are starting to see here. Climate change is a big factor,’’ Edwards said.

With the team that left yesterday, the number of personnel deployed by Fenz to assist the Australian firefighters since the end of October 2019 has exceeded 200.

As well as Fenz and DOC personnel, the New Zealand Defence Force is also supplying a crew each as part of the deployment.

Deployed personnel from Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Ruapehu District, Gisborne, Taranaki, Christchurch and Otago join Edwards and Pemberton-Reid for the twoweek mission.

Fenz Mid and South Canterbury area commander Steve Greenyer said three crews from the Mid and South Canterbury area, made up of volunteer and paid staff, were also on standby.

‘‘It prepares us for the fires we are starting to see here. Climate change is a big factor.’’

Brad Edwards