Forestry Corporation workers unsung heroes in NSW fire fight

NSW Labor has heaped praise on Forestry Corporation staff who are among the agencies helping fight fires across New South Wales.

Forestry Corporation workers possess significant generational knowledge of forests and forestry roads.

Workers have been supervising heavy plant bulldozers and harvesting machines, helping incident control and creating containment lines to use as back burning for fires.

Forestry Corporation has trained firefighters on staff who are available for deployments across the state.

NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said: “Everyone across our state should know how important Forestry Corporation staff are in the effort to fight and contain fires this bushfire season. We should all be very grateful for their continued efforts. “

NSW Labor Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Paul Scully said the role Forestry Corporation fire fighters and workers play in minimising fire risks and working with other agencies should not be underestimated.

“Forestry Corporation firefighters and other staff are not often in the spotlight but they play a crucial role in helping prevent, control and fight fires.

“Their knowledge of the forests and forestry roads is crucial in fighting and containing fires and Forestry Corporation fire fighters and other workers should be recognised for their hard work”, he said.

Mr Scully said a number of forests across NSW have been closed to public access because of the fire danger throughout the summer. A list of closures can be found on the Forestry Corporation website.

“Forestry Corporation workers help manage a huge 2 million hectares of the state’s forest estate.

“Many of the fires raging up and down the state are wiping out high production forests that have been managed over many decades by Forestry Corporation workers and is leaving behind damage to soil, crops and animals”, he said.

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