RFB Volunteers Deploying to Canada

Good luck to the 20 Rural Fire Brigade volunteer firefighters who are deploying to Canada this weekend.

All qualified Arduous Firefighters, these 20 volunteers will be -

• deployed overseas for 40 days, noting they may have very limited contact with family back home.
• experienced, skilled, physically fit firefighters who are capable of working in steep and forested country.
• working in extreme weather conditions.
• performing heavy physical work in smoke and heat during wildfire suppression.
• walking distances up steep hills and over broken terrain whilst carrying loads and packs.
• working 12 hour shifts using hand tools for tours of 14 continuous days or more.
• being accommodated in the field, i.e. in tents and sleeping bags on foam bed roll for the duration.

It is a testament to the professionalism of Queensland Rural firefighters that so many qualified Arduous Firefighters volunteered so quickly to help our Canadian friends.

The RFBAQ have supplied each volunteer with a rucksack and some items to be shared with firefighters from other countries.

Rucksacks will be more generally available from the RFBAQ stand to brigade members and RFSQ staff who attend the 4 RFSQ summits that will be held next year.

Good luck and stay safe to all those fighting the current wildfires in the USA and Canada!

July 29, 2024.

- A big thanks to A/BSO Lockie who drove up to the RFBAQ Gympie office to pick up the rucksacks.