PHOTO: The Sandstone Caves fire in the Pilliga Forest (Image; RFS).
Relying on volunteers is not unique to Australia’s rural firefighting but dependence on them comes to the forefront when a large fire breaks out.
Local, regional and interstate volunteer firefighters were instrumental in battling the recent sandstone caves fire in the Pilliga Forest that burnt out 9,409 hectares and closing the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri for more than a week.
Incident Controller for the Castlereagh RFS Zone, Inspector Dez White says that more than 300 Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, along with national parks firefighters, aviation specialists and heavy machinery operators were deployed to help battle the large blaze…