Country Fire Authority Werribee’s Dom Trifilo is one of five emergency services crew selected for an interim helicopter-based road crash rescue team established to respond to flood related incidents in isolated communities.
Comprised of CFA, VICSES and Shepparton Search and Rescue, the team will be based on the Mangalore airfield throughout the duration of the upcoming flood event.
It is hoped the joint rescue service will enhance emergency service response and complement ground crews.
VICSES chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch said the service is drawing upon local SES and CFA members with road crash rescue skills and qualifications.
“A multi-agency team of five members will rotate through shifts and respond to locations across the state where roads may have been cut off, and communities isolated,” he said.
“These members are highly skilled and trained to the same level, and they will be ready to respond quickly to the flood-affected communities that need their services for as long as these conditions last.
“Crews will be equipped with the most effective, agile and lightweight battery-operated rescue equipment to allow for increased capability.”
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the arrangement is another example of Victoria’s volunteer emergency service organisations working together as one and putting community at the centre of their work.
“There are many communities across Victoria that are difficult to access on the ground right now, and the air-based road crash rescue team has the equipment required to fly over water and attend incidents on their own or provide support to our ground crews when necessary,” Mr Heffernan said.
“In many ways this is a ground-breaking effort by our crews to adapt in an emergency and provide continued service to our communities.”
