Forestry Corporation of NSW’s south coast firefighting staff are lending their support in battling large bushfires currently affecting northern NSW.

Ten Forestry Corporation staff from Eden and Batemans Bay flew out of Canberra this week to join the bushfire response for two weeks.

Forestry Corporation’s Forest Acting Protection Supervisor, Rob Young, said the group has a diverse mix of skills and will offer much support the larger bushfire response.

“The forestry staff selected have a strong mix of skills and experiences, including basic firefighting, tanker operating, hazardous tree felling, heavy plant and residential property protection,” Mr Young said.

“Recent rain means the fire danger locally in Eden and Batemans Bay is very low, so we are in a good position to support the Wallangarra effort.”

Forestry Corporation staff taking part in the bushfire response are Josh Hyde, Jacob Young, Mat Hanshaw, Damien Wister, David Ashburn, Kayla Burdett, Dean Evans, Sam DeGraff, Craig Campbell and Kaine Zadro.

All members have previous firefighting experience, including bushfires in Kosciusko (2002-03), Jingra (2009), Dipper (2018), Tathra (2018), Yankies Gap (2018) and a number of north coast deployments.

“I know this team will do forestry proud and get the task done that have been allocated to them,” Mr Young said.

“Thanks should also go to staff who were not deployed and asked to back fill. This is also a very important role and should not be oversighted.

“In particular, thanks to Brad Jarret, Adam Latta, Troy Burdett, Hayley Brightmore, Wes Cameron and Peter Knight.

“Forestry Corporation is proud to be part of the state’s firefighting resource and working side-by-side with Rural Fire Service and other agencies on fires around NSW.”

Forestry Corporation is responsible for preventing and managing fires in two million hectares of State forests across New South Wales. It also assists with large bushfires on private property, other bushland, interstate and also overseas.

Find out more about fire management on State forests at www.forestrycorporation.com.au.

Media contact: Rod Campbell 0428058549