MudRunnerTD
14th February 2013, 12:11 AM
Just heard tonight that 2 fire fighters, a man and a woman have died on the high country fire ground after a tree fell on their vehicle.
This is a Tragedy and may our thoughts go to their families.
Our thoughts also go to the Men and Women that are at the front line of the fires right now is all parts of this country. Well done folks Stay safe.
Two firefighters killed battling Victorian blaze
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/02/75.jpg
PHOTO: Firefighters had been making the most of mild weather conditions to control the Harrietville blaze. (AAP: AWU)
RELATED STORY: Big bill for fighting Harrietville bushfire
RELATED STORY: Crews back-burning around Alpine fire
MAP: Harrietville 3741
Police say the two firefighters killed in Victoria's alpine region on Wednesday were a man and a woman.
They were working on the huge Harrietville blaze when a tree fell on their vehicle in the remote Buckland valley.
The man is believed to be in his 30s from Corryong and the woman is believed to be from Tallandoon.
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) says the firefighters were employed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Police say the blaze and steep terrain are making it difficult to get to the scene.
"Our members have confirmed that two firefighters unfortunately lost their lives," AWU Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said.
Mr Melhem says the deaths are a shattering loss for the firefighters' families, their workmates, the union and all Victorians.
"These DSE firefighters work in the most horrific conditions imaginable, away from the big centres, out in the bush, and with very little recognition for their heroic contribution to this state," he said.
"They have died heroes, which will be small comfort to those that grieve them."
The union says the identities of the firefighters have not been confirmed.
"The priority at this stage will be to recover the bodies because they're still behind the fire lines and attend to the rest of the firefighters making sure all of the support has been provided to them," Mr Melhem said.
He says their colleagues are receiving support.
"These firefighters are a very close group of people, they do depend on each other so I would say at this point in time they would be in a state of shock losing their comrades," he said.
"We have some of our officials on the scene as well to provide support to these firefighters and hopefully they'll be able to pull through."
The DSE and CFA had earlier said firefighters were making the most of mild weather conditions working around the clock to control hotspots and build containment lines around the fire.
The Harrietville fire has burned 27,000 hectares since it was started by lightning on January 21.
Another Victorian DSE firefighter died while working on bushfires in Tasmania last month.
Peter Cramer, a DSE firefighter and CFA volunteer from Tyers in Gippsland, was part of a contingent of more than 70 Victorian emergency services workers sent to Tasmania to help fight the fires.
Mr Cramer, 61, died on January 13 at Taranna, east of Hobart, while working on foot to identify potential containment lines on the southern boundary of the Forcett fire about three kilometres from the active fire edge.
ABC/AAP
http://www.abc.net.au/news=firefighters-receive-briefing-of-efforts-to-combat-harrietville/4517564 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-13/firefighters-receive-briefing-of-efforts-to-combat-harrietville/4517564)
This is a Tragedy and may our thoughts go to their families.
Our thoughts also go to the Men and Women that are at the front line of the fires right now is all parts of this country. Well done folks Stay safe.
Two firefighters killed battling Victorian blaze
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/02/75.jpg
PHOTO: Firefighters had been making the most of mild weather conditions to control the Harrietville blaze. (AAP: AWU)
RELATED STORY: Big bill for fighting Harrietville bushfire
RELATED STORY: Crews back-burning around Alpine fire
MAP: Harrietville 3741
Police say the two firefighters killed in Victoria's alpine region on Wednesday were a man and a woman.
They were working on the huge Harrietville blaze when a tree fell on their vehicle in the remote Buckland valley.
The man is believed to be in his 30s from Corryong and the woman is believed to be from Tallandoon.
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) says the firefighters were employed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Police say the blaze and steep terrain are making it difficult to get to the scene.
"Our members have confirmed that two firefighters unfortunately lost their lives," AWU Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said.
Mr Melhem says the deaths are a shattering loss for the firefighters' families, their workmates, the union and all Victorians.
"These DSE firefighters work in the most horrific conditions imaginable, away from the big centres, out in the bush, and with very little recognition for their heroic contribution to this state," he said.
"They have died heroes, which will be small comfort to those that grieve them."
The union says the identities of the firefighters have not been confirmed.
"The priority at this stage will be to recover the bodies because they're still behind the fire lines and attend to the rest of the firefighters making sure all of the support has been provided to them," Mr Melhem said.
He says their colleagues are receiving support.
"These firefighters are a very close group of people, they do depend on each other so I would say at this point in time they would be in a state of shock losing their comrades," he said.
"We have some of our officials on the scene as well to provide support to these firefighters and hopefully they'll be able to pull through."
The DSE and CFA had earlier said firefighters were making the most of mild weather conditions working around the clock to control hotspots and build containment lines around the fire.
The Harrietville fire has burned 27,000 hectares since it was started by lightning on January 21.
Another Victorian DSE firefighter died while working on bushfires in Tasmania last month.
Peter Cramer, a DSE firefighter and CFA volunteer from Tyers in Gippsland, was part of a contingent of more than 70 Victorian emergency services workers sent to Tasmania to help fight the fires.
Mr Cramer, 61, died on January 13 at Taranna, east of Hobart, while working on foot to identify potential containment lines on the southern boundary of the Forcett fire about three kilometres from the active fire edge.
ABC/AAP
http://www.abc.net.au/news=firefighters-receive-briefing-of-efforts-to-combat-harrietville/4517564 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-13/firefighters-receive-briefing-of-efforts-to-combat-harrietville/4517564)