Victorian emergency volunteers head north

More than 50 volunteers and staff from the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) have headed to Queensland to assist local emergency services and communities in their ongoing response to severe flooding and storms.

The deployment of 28 VICSES personnel and 25 CFA personnel to Queensland follows the impact of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred across the state’s southeast.

Support efforts will be largely focused on boots on the ground operations, with SES volunteers using their training and substantial experience of Chainsaw Operation and the Safe Working at Heights System (SWAHS) to remove trees down over roads and properties and repair building damage such as roof repairs.

VICSES Acting Chief Officer, Operations, Alistair Drayton thanked the volunteers for their commitment.

“Your dedication to the role is truly commendable.”

Acting Chief Officer Drayton said emergency first responders worked as one, regardless of the organisation or the state they were from.

“In Victoria and across the nation we will continue to provide support wherever we can.”