WA firefighters to assist in NSW bush fires

28/12/01
Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts said the New South Wales Fire Services had accepted an offer from Western Australia to help fight the bush fires in and around Sydney.
Mrs Roberts said at this stage a request had been received to send two specialist firefighters who were trained in aerial observation.
"These two 'Air Attack Supervisors' will carry out aerial surveillance of the fire grounds from helicopters," Mrs Roberts said.
"Their role will be to search for spot fires as well as directing the water bombers to their targets."
Mrs Roberts said the two firefighters were Adam Bannister, a station officer with the Fire Emergency Services Authority, and Mike Cantelo, a fire co-ordinator with the Department of Conservation and Land Management.
"These two officers are the first members from a group of support officers that we have put on stand-by, waiting for the go-ahead if the NSW fire authorities request further assistance," she said.
"There are a further six other specialist firefighters on stand-by, which include four Incident Managers as well as another two additional Air Attack Supervisors.
"We have offered the services of our firefighters, but at this stage the NSW fire authorities have declined."
Mrs Roberts said the WA specialist support staff was necessary to relieve their counterparts in NSW who had been dealing with more than 100 fires over the past three weeks.
"We are sending these firefighters along with our hopes and prayers for an end to this tragic situation," she said.
The two firefighters will fly out tomorrow afternoon.
Minister's office: 9213 6600