Local NPWS staff help Canadian fire effort

A local NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) firefighter has joined an international effort to fight wildfires burning in Canada.

Barrington Tops area ranger Sean Thompson is among a 22-strong NPWS contingent who have been deployed to help Canadian firefighters battling over 420 wildfires. 

A total of 248 of the fires are listed as out of control, and 3.6 million hectares have been burnt so far this season. 

NPWS has sent highly trained Remote Area Firefighting team members as well as incident management and aviation specialists.

NPWS Hunter Central Coast Branch Director Kylie Yeend said all NPWS crews are currently operating in the Alberta province.

Sean Thompson is assisting as an incident management team planning officer.

“Sean is part of the international effort for a 37-day deployment and we look forward to welcoming them back safely,” said Ms Yeend.

“During the 2019–20 fires, the Canadians came over and helped us in similar roles, so it’s great to be able to return the service.

“We have very similar approaches to wildfire management, so our crews will be fully integrated and will be able to provide support to the stretched Canadian firefighters.

“NPWS firefighters are extremely experienced and conduct about 75 per cent of all hazard reduction burns across the state, in conjunction with the Rural Fire Service.

“We have firefighting crews who are specifically trained for working in remote places and these skills will be critical in helping control the many out-of-control fires.”