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Do you have what it takes to be a firefighter?

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is calling for people to apply for fire-fighting roles for the coming fire season.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 22nd August 2005 - Back to News

The role of a project firefighter is primarily to respond to wildfires in public land across Victoria, supporting DSE and Parks Victoria staff and partner agencies. When they are not fighting wildfires, project firefighters assist with the clearing of strategic fire tracks and undertaking fuel-reduction burns to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Advertisements for the project firefighters are currently being published in newspapers throughout the region. This season there are vacancies for firefighters and rappel crews in Gippsland.

DSE Gippsland's Regional Fire Co-ordinator, David Rash said that 139 firefighters will be recruited in the Gippsland region this season, with the first intake to take place in October.

"Fire-fighting is very strenuous and requires more strength and endurance than other work activities," Mr Rash said.

"The hours of work are often unpredictable and fire-fighters need to be prepared to be available for stand-by for immediate deployment."

Applicants who progress through the initial selection phase will be required to complete an internationally recognised fitness test which involves walking 4.8 kilometres carrying a 20kg backpack, along a flat course within a time limit of 45 minutes.

Higher standards are required for rappel and hover exit crews who are specialist firefighters trained to deploy from helicopters to fires in remote areas.

Mr Rash said that successful applicants will attend a five-day training course in preparation for their role, which incorporates a wide range of skills including fire-line safety, use of equipment, driver training and first aid.

"DSE fire-fighters are among the best trained forest fire-fighters in the world," he said.

"Our training is rigorous and demanding, but we are rewarded with highly skilled people who can help to protect public land and communities from the threat of wildfires."

For further details and an application form visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/fire or phone the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Applications for project fire fighter positions close on Friday, September 9.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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