New recruits bolster firefighting resources across North East Victoria

FOREST Fire Management Victoria’s (FFMVic) newest recruits are learning the ropes at a week-long training camp at Yackandandah in readiness for the summer bushfire season. The training ensures “project” firefighters are ready to fight fires and complete work to help reduce bushfire risk. This summer FFMVic has employed 540 project firefighters to work alongside our experienced permanent crews to keep Victorians and the environment safe. Within Hume Region 114 project firefighters will be based at depots at Alexandra, Marysville, Toolangi, Broadford, Kinglake, Benalla, Mansfield, Nathalia, Shepparton, Beechworth, Bright, Ovens, Corryong, Mitta Valley and Tallangatta. Recruits undergo two weeks of classroom and field-based learning on topics including fire behaviour, safety and survival techniques, fire suppression, working with aircraft, and planned burning. The training camp provides opportunities for hands-on learning, from operating water pumps and chainsaws, to driving specialised fire fighting vehicles. In addition to emergency response, project firefighters also undertake mulching, mowing, slashing and spraying; maintaining fuel breaks and the public land road network, trail and recreation site maintenance and planned burning. It’s not too early to register your interest in working as a project firefighter next bushfire season! Register your interest for a role in 2025/26 now, at: https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/who-we-are/firefighting-and-employment FFMVic Hume Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Aaron Kennedy said recruits have diverse backgrounds which reflect the communities they serve. “They play a critical role working alongside our experienced firefighters to respond to bushfires in some of the state’s most remote and challenging environments, helping keep our communities safe,” he said. “With an increased risk of bushfires forecast for the region, our project firefighters are an important and valued addition to our firefighting resources this summer.”

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