Patrick Eschenmoser (left), of Wanaka, and Jamie Cowan, of
Queenstown, take a break in Hotham, Australia, while
fighting the Victoria bushfires last week. Photo supplied.
Otago firefighters have returned home with a sense of
achievement after 21 days fighting Victorian bushfires.
Five Department of Conservation firefighters were part of the
44-strong group of New Zealand firefighters sent to Hotham,
Victoria, last month to aid the Australian National Fire
Authority with bushfires started by lightning in late
January.
Jamie Cowan, Gavin Udy and Mark Mawhinney, all of Queenstown,
Gerard Hill, of Te Anau, and Wanaka's Patrick Eschenmoser
returned last week.
Mr Cowan, Queenstown's rural fire chief, said the job was
''full on'', but he and the others felt a sense of reward
helping out Australian neighbours.
''We pretty much did everything you could imagine. You name
it we did it.''
After what he said was an exhausting trip, Mr Cowan has
returned to what feels like a quieter life and easier work in
Queenstown.
Hotham, Australia, where 44 New Zealand firefighters were
sent last month. They returned home at the weekend after
spending 21 days fighting the Victoria bushfires. Photo by
Jamie Cowan.
After being welcomed by the Victorian premier on arrival,
the New Zealand firefighters were sent straight to work for
16-hour days in seven-day shifts in 33degC temperatures.
''We were going through seven litres of water a day each.
''It was an eye-opener for some of the guys who haven't been
in this situation. It was for those of us who have been, as
well.''
Four firefighters have died this summer fighting Australia's
bushfires, two of them the day before the 44 New Zealanders
were deployed.
''It is a fairly dangerous occupation.''
The New Zealanders felt a definite sense of achievement upon
leaving, as the fires had been almost fully extinguished due
to the hard work and three days of rain that fell near the
end of their placement.
New Zealand's National Rural Fire Authority has sent a
further 22 firefighters across the Tasman to ensure the fires
are contained.
The deployment last month was the second largest to Victoria
after 109 New Zealand firefighters went in 2009. Mr Cowan
said the fires had covered 37,000ha of land at a cost of
around $1 million a day.
The fires have now been burning for more than 38 days.
''It's mixed emotion. It's great to be back with our families
and they are obviously happy to have us back here safe, but
we are proud of what we have achieved over there.''
He said New Zealand's own fire situation was on
''tenterhooks'' as the North Island droughts threatened and
Central Otago has not received rain for the past three weeks.
''I'm playing catch-up now. We have come back to a very dry
Queenstown.''
March was late entering a prohibited fire season, but if rain
did not come soon, Mr Cowan said the ban was likely.
Fire permits were no longer being issued in the region.
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